Sources Close To Anna Kendrick Addresses Speculation On Blake Lively Feud
As Blake Lively gears up for her next movie release, her ongoing legal battle over It Ends With Us is casting a shadow. Meanwhile, her Another Simple Favor costar Anna Kendrick finds herself in an unexpected situation.
The sequel to their 2018 thriller is set to premiere at SXSW in Austin, Texas, on March 7 before hitting Prime Video on May 1. When the film’s poster was unveiled on Instagram on February 4, fans quickly flooded the comment section with remarks about Blake’s legal dispute with Justin Baldoni, her It Ends With Us costar and director, whom she has accused of sexual harassment and retaliation — allegations he denies.
Others questioned why Blake’s name appeared higher than Anna’s on the poster.
A source close to Anna, 39, told PEOPLE that she is “not used to being caught up in any drama.” The negative comments have reportedly upset her, particularly those from fans vowing to boycott the film in protest of Blake.
The on-screen frenemies have sparked renewed rumors of behind-the-scenes tension, with social media users analyzing past interviews from 2018 for signs of a possible feud. However, another source insists that there “is no drama or rift between them.”
Despite speculation, Anna has spoken fondly of working with Blake, calling their reunion “lovely” during an October 2024 interview with PEOPLE while promoting her directorial debut, Woman of the Hour. She mentioned that since they live on opposite coasts, they rarely see each other but that reprising their roles was “so fun.”
Anna and Blake filmed Another Simple Favor in Italy in spring 2024 while It Ends With Us was in post-production. The sequel’s cast includes Andrew Rannells, Elizabeth Perkins, Michele Morrone, Alex Newell, Henry Golding, and Allison Janney. Director Paul Feig has publicly supported Blake multiple times, responding to an Instagram comment saying she has been “nothing but supportive and a dream to work with.” He also teased in a January post that the sequel is “awesome” and that both leads give “amazing performances.”
