Emily And Stephanie May Return For An Even Wilder Ride On “A Simple Favor,” Paul Feig Reveals
Grab your cocktails and secrets, as Emily and Stephanie might not be done with their twisted games just yet. Director Paul Feig says he’s already dreaming up the next chapter for Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick’s stylishly chaotic characters in a possible third installment of A Simple Favor.
“I definitely know where I want it to go,” Paul told PEOPLE. “It was too much fun — I would love to get back together with this group and these characters and send them on an even weirder, international adventure, if possible.”
Paul, the mastermind behind Bridesmaids and Spy, just released Another Simple Favor, a sequel that swapped the Connecticut suburbs for the dreamy island of Capri, Italy. But he’s not stopping there. “I think we need to take them out into the world even more,” he teased.
In the latest movie, Stephanie (played by Anna) has turned her chaotic past into a bestselling true-crime book. She even ends up with custody of Emily’s son, Nicky. Meanwhile, Emily (Blake) has vanished into the shadows of Rome, where her intimidating mother-in-law (played by Elena Sofia Ricci) hands her a mysterious envelope — asking for, you guessed it, another simple favor. What’s inside? Paul isn’t saying, but the setup screams sequel.
The original A Simple Favor, based on Darcey Bell’s 2017 novel, became a surprise hit in 2018. Fans loved the glamorous tension, biting humor, and wild plot twists. And let’s be honest — Blake and Anna’s chemistry was electric. “Through the roof,” Paul called their chemistry, adding, “I literally cannot think of anybody who could play these roles other than them.”
Even screenwriter Laeta Kalogridis, who co-wrote the sequel with Jessica Sharzer, is ready for more. “I certainly would love to get to spend time with these characters and these actors again,” she said, adding that they “embody these characters so beautifully.”
Still, the sequel almost didn’t happen. At the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival, Paul admitted he nearly walked away.”There were a lot of times in the development of this I tried to kill it because I was just like, ‘If we don’t get it right, let’s not do it,’” he said. But they did get it right, and now the door is wide open for a trilogy.
