Paul Feig is simply telling “A Simple Favor” fans that their big-screen sequel moment might still be on the horizon.
Feig’s sequel to his beloved 2018 film starring Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick was first announced in March 2024 as a Prime Video streaming-only release. The original, Lionsgate-distributed film became an audience success, grossing $97 million globally off a $20 million budget.
According to Feig, though, a theatrical premiere is still the goal.
“Well, we don’t know [if it will only be streaming],” Feig told IndieWire while promoting the upcoming action comedy film “Jackpot!”. “There’s a chance it could be in theaters. I think [streaming is] the path it’s on, but you never know.”
He added, “Never say never, because I’m a big theater guy. But I love being on streamers, too. I just love being able to make movies.”
“A Simple Favor 2” marks the return of Lively and Kendrick as neighbors who seem to keep getting entangled in whodunits. The first feature was based on Darcey Bell’s bestselling novel and centered on high-powered professional Emily (Lively) going missing, while her new bestie Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) seemingly steps into Emily’s picture-perfect life, including wooing her husband (Henry Golding).
The sequel shifts the drama to Italy, with the central duo traveling to Capri for Emily’s wedding to a wealthy Italian businessman. The official synopsis teases “murder and betrayal at a wedding with more twists and turns than the road from the Marina Grande to the Capri town square.”
The sequel is set for release from Amazon MGM Studios, which this year did well at the box office putting “Challengers” in theaters.
Oscar winner and frequent Feig collaborator Allison Janney and Tony winner Alex Newell join the cast. Lionsgate is co-producing the sequel along with Amazon MGM. Producer/director Feig worked on developing the script for almost three years between 2022 and 2024 before going into production in April 2024.
“We’re in post-production right now,” Feig told IndieWire. “We’re about seven weeks into my directors’ cut. We did do a test screening of it last week, and it scored through the roof. We are very excited. We’re definitely on the right path. I think we got it right, and it’s just a lot of fine-tuning to get it really singing, but I’m excited.”
Despite fans (and the cast) wanting a “Bridesmaids” sequel too, Feig for now thinks “A Simple Favor” is his only past film worth a follow-up.
“I’m always looking forward,” he said. “I had so much fun doing the sequel to ‘A Simple Favor,’ but I try to avoid them. I don’t want to fall back on old properties all the time. I just think they’re good on their own. There aren’t that many great sequels in the world, I hate to say. But with ‘A Simple Favor,’ I was like, ‘Maybe we can make “Godfather 2” and not make “Speed 2,”‘ or whatever. That was always my goal.”
“A Simple Favor” returning star Golding told Variety in July 2024 that the next installment is “crazy” and way “more bananas” than the first film. According to Golding, Feig is still reliving just how “wild” the sequel is while in the edit.
“Every so often he’ll send me a text and be like, ‘This scene is so wild,’” Golding said. “Everyone thought it was going to be a one-off. But then people loved it and there was such fanfare. It’s one of those guilty pleasures.”
“Jackpot!” is in theaters August 15.
