<p id=”par-1_58″>The <em>A Simple Favor</em> sequel is still on. Director Paul Feig is calling out an internet investigator’s “total BS” claim <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/blake-lively/”>Blake Lively</a>’s <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/what-ryan-reynolds-feels-about-blake-livelys-controversial-lawsuit.html/”>legal battle</a> with her <em>It Ends With Us</em> co-star and director Justin Baldoni is putting <em>A Simple Favor 2</em> in jeopardy. Ahead, Feig’s response. Plus, when he expects the follow-up to the 2018 thriller<em> </em>to premiere. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-a-simple-favor-2-director-calls-shelving-claim-total-bs”>‘A Simple Favor 2’ director calls shelving claim ‘total BS’ </h2>
<p id=”par-2_37″>Feig, the director behind <em>A Simple Favor</em> and <em>A Simple Favor 2</em>, pushed back against internet investigator Eric B’s claims in an <a href=”https://x.com/Oflululemon/status/1877758748879643099″ target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>X</a> thread that Amazon shelved the movie in light of Lively and Baldoni’s legal battle. </p>
<p id=”par-3_28″>“This is total BS,” Feig replied (via <a href=”https://ew.com/paul-feig-denies-a-simple-favor-2-shelved-amid-blake-lively-lawsuit-8773170#:~:text=Paul%20Feig%20denies%20A%20Simple,2%2C%22%20stay%20in%20line.&text=Paul%20Feig%20has%20a%20message,t%20believe%20everything%20you%20read.” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Entertainment Weekly</a>). “Sorry. The movie is finished and coming out soon. Don’t believe anything you read on social media these days.”</p>
<p id=”par-4_36″><em>A Simple Favor</em> is based on Darcey Bell’s novel of the same name. The movie follows Lively as a chic, mysterious mom who befriends a blogger (and fellow mom), played by <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/anna-kendrick/”>Anna Kendrick</a>, before going missing. </p>
<p id=”par-5_38″>“The movie is awesome, and Blake and Anna turn in amazing performances,” Feig said of the sequel. “I can’t wait for you all to see it. Stay tuned for more details. <em>A Simple Favor 2</em> is coming soon!”</p>
<p id=”par-6_41″>Eric B’s initial post claimed <em>A Simple Favor 2</em> was shelved because of “Blake Lively’s refusal to promote — amid her messy legal battle with Justin Baldoni — and growing tensions with Anna Kendrick” although the movie had “glowing test screenings.” </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-post-production-is-why-a-simple-favor-2-doesn-t-have-a-release-date-not-lively-s-legal-case”>Post-production is why ‘A Simple Favor 2’ doesn’t have a release date, not Lively’s legal case</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image aligncenter size-full” id=”emb-1″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Anna-Kendrick-Paul-Feig-and-Blake-Lively-at-the-A-Simple-Favor-premiere.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Anna Kendrick, Paul Feig, and Blake Lively at the ‘A Simple Favor’ premiere” class=”wp-image-3762232″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Anna Kendrick, Paul Feig, and Blake Lively | Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-7_26″>Eric B replied, asking Feig to “clarify” why the <em>A Simple Favor </em>sequel doesn’t have a release date. His answer? What happens after filming wraps, post-production. </p>
<p id=”par-8_51″>“My friend, it’s called post production [sic], which generally takes over half a year at least when you factor in editing, scoring, special effects, sound mixing, close captioning, and all the technical quality control that has to be done,” Feig said. “Our post schedule always had us finishing everything by mid-January.”</p>
<p id=”par-9_44″>“Movies don’t come out the second they’re finished because the studio spends the previous year deciding the best date to release it,” the director continued. “We’ve always planned on something in the spring/summer of this year. That’s how movies work. I hope this helps.” </p>
<p id=”par-10_13″>So, look out for <em>A Simple Favor 2</em> in a matter of months. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-feig-also-showed-his-support-for-blake-lively”>Feig also showed his support for Blake Lively</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image aligncenter size-full” id=”emb-2″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/A-Simple-Favor-director-Paul-Feig-and-Blake-Lively.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”‘A Simple Favor’ director Paul Feig and Blake Lively pose together.” class=”wp-image-3762240″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Blake Lively and Paul Feig | Swan Gallet/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
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<p id=”par-11_33″>Also in his response, Feig voiced support for Lively, who in December 2024 accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on the <em>It Ends With Us</em> set alleging he <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/blake-lively-reportedly-felt-out-of-control-amid-it-ends-with-us-drama.html/”>orchestrated a smear campaign </a>against her. </p>
<p id=”par-12_52″>“I’ve now made two movies with Blake, and all I can say is she’s one of the most professional, creative, collaborative, talented, and kind people I’ve ever worked with,” Feig said. “She truly did not deserve any of this smear campaign against her. I think it’s awful she was put through this.”</p>
<p id=”par-13_35″>Lively filed a legal complaint against Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios, and publicists, in December 2024. First reported by <em>The New York Times</em>, Baldoni has since denied the allegations and is suing for libel. </p>
<p id=”par-14_32″>Additionally, Baldoni’s lawyer has said he plans to sue Lively. Meanwhile, Baldoni is also facing a lawsuit filed by his former publicist, Stephanie Jones, who is accusing him of conspiring against her. </p>