Blake Lively Had Major Say in ‘Another Simple Favor’: Screenwriter Reveals

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Blake Lively makes her comeback to acting with, marking her first project since – the film is a follow-up to the 2018 dark comedy mystery A Simple Favor, and it emerges amidst her ongoing legal dispute with former cast member Justin Baldoni.

In a turn of events, accusations of sexual harassment were made against Baldoni on the set of the Colleen Hoover adaptation. However, Baldoni countered with a lawsuit, alleging extortion, a malicious campaign, and defamation, also claiming he was excluded from the final cut of It Ends With Us. Meanwhile, director Paul Feig praised his work with Blake Lively, though co-writer Jessica Sharzer disclosed that Lively played a significant role in the making of Another Simple Favor, as she shared in an interview.

Frequently, Paul Feig emphasized that his films are a collective effort between him and his cast, and this was certainly true for the movie Another Simple Favor. When rumors of a sequel sparked controversy in early February, Feig dismissed speculation that the film was anything other than his own vision, as some had suggested regarding It Ends With Us. In response to an Instagram comment asking whether it was his cut or Blake’s, he clarified, “It’s my cut. There is no other cut.” He went on to praise Blake, stating she was nothing but supportive and a joy to work with. “She is the best and an incredible collaborator,” he added, expressing his admiration for her. Recently, he reiterated this sentiment once more.

Although Lively didn’t write the script for the film, it was clear that she left her unique touch on it. The screenwriter shared that the actress has a great sense of humor and truly grasped her character. Moreover, Sharzer pointed out that some of the final scenes contained improvisation, which wasn’t scripted by Lively herself. He emphasized her comedic abilities by stating, “Indeed, she’s quite funny. She’s married to a very humorous man [actor Ryan Reynolds], and I believe they help each other in their projects.

The person who jointly penned the script for this project, having previously authored the initial film and partnering with Laeta Kalogridis on the sequel, emphasized that the creative process is highly collaborative. This is because Paul Feig, who is not only an exceptional director but also a writer himself, contributes significantly to the script. Additionally, the lead actress has brilliant ideas for her character, which she feels intimately connected to. Consequently, it’s a collaborative effort, and there are many humorous lines that may have been penned by someone else or that I might not recall writing, as they could have originated from various sources.

Sharzer pointed out, “The line in the first film that never fails to make me chuckle is when Blake, at a playground with Anna, mentions having a hard-to-please boss and says, ‘Or they’ll stick it in your face.’ I’ve never used that phrase before, but it always cracks me up. It’s amazing how some lines can be fresh and entertaining, even when you didn’t write them yourself.” Regarding the author of the line, she added, “I’m not certain if it was Anna or Paul who wrote it. I’m unsure about the origin, but I can confirm that it wasn’t me who penned it.

Blake Lively Was Involved in Another Aspect of Another Simple Favor

Apart from contributing to the character’s dialogue and personality, Lively played a part in the film’s wardrobe as well. Known for her stylish flair due to her high-profile socialite role and frequent appearances at events like the Met Gala, Lively is often lauded for her fashion sense. The actress also had a hand in selecting the costumes for “It Ends With Us“, frequently using garments from her own wardrobe or borrowing them from Ryan Reynolds and close friend Gigi Hadid.

Blake played a significant role in shaping the fashion, and I believe she worked exceptionally well with our exceptional costume designer,” Sharzer further stated to the same media outlet. “In the initial movie, I understood the character to be glamorous, but I also made an effort to focus on my own area of expertise. I am not a costume designer. I am not a fashion enthusiast. I don’t belong to that realm.

The co-writer went on to say, “I believe it was an incredibly thrilling chance for everyone participating, particularly the costume designer and Blake, to ponder, ‘How might we surpass our work from the initial film? What innovative styles can we introduce for the character?’ Given that we were in Europe for this destination wedding setting.

Another Simple Favor is streaming on Prime Video.

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2025-05-06 00:11