Prime-Video - Another Simple Favor: A Playful and Murderous Return in a Sun-Drenched Italian Setting

By Mulder, 14 april 2025

When Another Simple Favor dropped its first trailer, it was like stepping back into a mischievous world we didn’t realize we missed so much. Directed once again by Paul Feig and featuring the sharp pens of Jessica Sharzer and Laeta Kalogridis, this 2025 sequel to the deliciously wicked A Simple Favor brings back not just the stylish thrills but also a cast that feels like reconnecting with old, slightly dangerous friends. Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively reprise their iconic roles — Stephanie Smothers, the seemingly naive mommy vlogger with a taste for trouble, and Emily Nelson, the ultimate enigmatic femme fatale. This time, the action unfolds not in suburban Connecticut but on the stunning island of Capri, Italy, at Emily’s lavish wedding to a wealthy Italian businessman. Of course, true to the franchise’s DNA, not even a picture-perfect Mediterranean ceremony could stay innocent for long: murder inevitably crashes the party.

The journey to Another Simple Favor hitting our screens was its own twisting tale. First whispered about back in May 2022 when Amazon Studios and Lionsgate officially greenlit the sequel, the project stirred a kind of quiet but growing excitement among fans who had found the first film’s mix of noir, comedy, and fashion absolutely irresistible. While initial plans pointed to a Fall 2023 shoot, things got a little sidetracked — call it a plot twist worthy of the film itself. Production eventually began in late March 2024, not just in Capri’s dreamlike vistas but also amidst the timeless ruins of Villa Adriana, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Honestly, knowing that parts of this mischievous caper were filmed among the crumbling grandeur of Roman antiquity somehow just makes the whole thing even juicier. There’s something fitting about a story full of betrayal and backstabbing taking place in the shadow of an empire famous for exactly that.

Paul Feig’s magic touch seems intact judging by the early buzz. After premiering at the South by Southwest Festival on March 7, 2025 — a perfect choice for a film that delights in being both smart and a little anarchic — Another Simple Favor is primed to make its worldwide splash on Amazon Prime Video starting May 1. If there’s one thing that immediately jumps out from the trailer, it’s that Another Simple Favor doesn’t rest on its well-tailored laurels. The energy between Kendrick and Lively remains pure lightning — that delicious catty chemistry, those loaded glances, the unspoken games of one-upmanship that bubble under every polite word. It's like watching two dueling grandmasters play a chess match with martini glasses instead of pawns. And let's talk about the new additions: seeing powerhouse actors like Allison Janney and Michele Morrone join the already killer cast is like pouring a double shot of espresso into an already lethal cocktail. This isn’t just about nostalgia; it’s about escalating the stakes and throwing in just enough chaos to keep things unpredictable. Plus, setting a murder mystery against the glittering backdrop of a billionaire wedding in Capri feels like Paul Feig giving a knowing wink to the audience: "We know you came here for the fabulousness too."

Anecdotally, it’s worth remembering that when A Simple Favor first came out in 2018, it was almost a surprise hit. It sneaked up on audiences who thought they were signing up for a glossy thriller and got something far more subversive — a savage takedown of suburban hypocrisy wrapped in haute couture. With the sequel, Feig and his team seem to be fully leaning into that absurd, heightened tone, embracing not just the twists and betrayals but the sheer over-the-top fun of it all. There's an almost self-aware gleam to the proceedings this time — as if everyone involved is in on the joke, including the audience. And honestly? That makes it even better. Films like this thrive when they remember that mystery and comedy aren’t opposites; they’re dance partners, each setting up the other for a bigger, better spin.

As Another Simple Favor gears up for its May 1 release, it's shaping up to be exactly the kind of guilty pleasure that feels less guilty and more like a necessary indulgence. With Paul Feig orchestrating another stylishly twisted game of secrets and lies, and with Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively still reigning as perhaps one of the most delightfully chaotic duos in modern cinema, this sequel isn’t just “another” simple favor — it feels like a little cinematic gift, wrapped up in silk scarves, Italian sunshine, and just enough bloodstains to keep it interesting.

Synopsis :
Stephanie Smothers and Emily Nelson find themselves on the beautiful island of Capri, Italy, for Emily's extravagant wedding to a wealthy Italian businessman. In addition to the glamorous guests, murder and betrayal invite themselves to this wedding full of twists and turns.

Another Simple Favor
Directed by Paul Feig
Written by Jessica Sharzer, Laeta Kalogridis
Based on Characters by Darcey Bell
Produced by Paul Feig, Laura Fischer
Starring Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Elizabeth Perkins, Michele Morrone, Elena Sofia Ricci, Alex Newell, Henry Golding, Allison Janney
Cinematography : John Schwartzman
Edited by Brent White
Music by Theodore Shapiro
Production companies : Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Lionsgate, Feigco Entertainment, Bron Studios, Creative Wealth Media Finance, Big Indie Pictures
Distributed by Amazon MGM Studios
Release dates : March 7, 2025 (SXSW), May 1, 2025 (United States, France)
Running time : 120 minutes