he couldn’t have been more positive about the pair.
Reports had been swirling, particularly after a Daily Mail article claimed there was tension between the two stars. According to the piece, the friction allegedly stemmed from how Lively’s legal dispute had impacted the promo work for the upcoming sequel, Another Simple Favor. Some even claimed Kendrick was trying to keep her distance from her co-star.
But Feig’s recent comments to PEOPLE Magazine at a special screening in New York seem to brush those whispers aside entirely. When asked about working with the two actresses again, he was full of praise. “Yeah, it’s really natural. There’s something about the two of them,” he said. “They just, they come together and it’s magic.”
It’s clear Feig was more focused on their brilliant chemistry than any off-screen speculation. And for fans of the original 2018 thriller-comedy, that’s the best kind of news.
Feig also spoke about how enthusiastic both actresses were to return to their roles. Despite any behind-the-scenes noise, it seems both Lively and Kendrick were totally on board for the follow-up film. “They were both kind of equally excited, I will have to say, because they both really loved these characters, you know, and, and so it was not hard at all to talk them into it,” he shared.
In Another Simple Favor, the story picks up with Lively’s character, Emily, who, after being convicted of murder in the first film, is now out of prison and planning an elaborate Italian wedding. She reaches out to Kendrick’s character, Stephanie, the upbeat and somewhat overly friendly blogger, to be a part of her big day, and things, as you’d expect, spiral from there.
So while some outlets were keen to stir up talk of a behind-the-scenes clash, those closest to the film are painting a very different picture. According to Feig, what fans see on screen — that sharp, electric chemistry between the leads — isn’t just an act. Whatever’s being whispered elsewhere, the people making the movie seem to be having a great time doing it.