Blake Lively Dishes on Paul Feig’s “Curveball” in Another Simple Favor Amid Legal Turmoil
Blake Lively recently took a much-needed breather from her ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni to celebrate the premiere of *Another Simple Favor* at the South by Southwest (SXSW) film festival on March 7. The actress, who is currently embroiled in a contentious lawsuit against her *It Ends With Us* co-star, expressed her excitement about reuniting with director Paul Feig for the sequel to the 2018 hit. During the event, Lively gushed, “I love this character so much—this is probably my favorite character I’ve ever been fortunate enough to play,” showcasing her enthusiasm for her role.
Reflecting on her experience filming the first installment, Lively revealed her initial nerves about the film’s tonal ambiguity. “We didn’t know if we were making a drama or a comedy,” she recalled, prompting Feig’s ambiguous yet reassuring response of “Yes.” Now, with the sequel set to stream on Amazon Prime Video starting May 1, Lively was prepared to dive back into the character—until Feig threw her a “curveball” that she teasingly described as “personal torture” to witness on screen. While she remained tight-lipped about the specifics, she noted that the surprise elevated the film’s stakes and made for an uncomfortable viewing experience, even during its premiere.
As Lively enjoys her cinematic comeback, she has been navigating the complexities of her legal issues, which stem from allegations of sexual harassment against Baldoni. The actress filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department in December, accusing Baldoni and his production company of retaliatory behavior after she voiced concerns about inappropriate actions on set. Baldoni has countered with a lawsuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, claiming they have engaged in a smear campaign against him.
Despite the turmoil, Lively managed to maintain a sense of humor, as evidenced by her recent appearance at SNL 50 with Reynolds, where he jokingly deflected questions about their legal woes. As the premiere of *Another Simple Favor* approaches, it seems Lively is ready to embrace both her art and the challenges of her personal life with resilience and wit.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and The Hollywood Reporter, The New York Times, People Magazine
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