鈥淎nother Simple Favor,鈥� Paul Feig's sequel to his 2018 noir comedy starring and , will open the SXSW Film and TV Festival.
Organizers of the Austin, Texas, festival announced Tuesday that the long-awaited sequel will kick of this year's edition on March 7. The Amazon MGM release plots another twist-filled round of murder and betrayal, with Stephanie Smothers (Kendrick) and Emily Nelson (Lively) heading to an Italy wedding on Capri.
鈥淲hen we saw this film last fall, we instantly knew it had to open SXSW 鈥� it gave us that electric feeling we live for as programmers,鈥� said Claudette Godfrey, festival vice president, in a statement.
SXSW has hosted Feig's films before, including a work-in-progress screening of 鈥淏ridesmaids鈥� in 2011 and the premiere of 鈥淪py鈥� in 2015.
The premiere of 鈥淎nother Simple Favor鈥� will be Lively's first new movie since last year's 鈥淚t Ends With Us鈥� and the involving Lively and that film's director and co-star, Justin Baldoni.
In late December, Lively sued Baldoni, his production company and others for sexual harassment and attacks on her reputation and sought unspecified damages. Baldoni sued last month, accusing Lively and her husband, 鈥淒eadpool鈥� actor Ryan Reynolds, of defamation and extortion and seeking at least $400 million in damages.
A trial date of March 2026
SXSW previously announced : the upcoming Seth Rogen Hollywood comedy series 鈥淭he Studio.鈥� The film festival, now in its 32nd year, runs March 7-14.
The Associated Press
