“Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick Spark Excitement with Teasing Reunion at SXSW Premiere of Another Simple Favor”

Blake Lively mentions that collaborating with Anna Kendrick once more is “the best.”

The Another Simple Favor co-stars engaged with fans and autographed items on Friday, March 7, while promoting their upcoming sequel to the 2018 comedy A Simple Favor at its 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival debut. During the event, they offered brief reflections on reuniting.

While interacting with fans, Lively, 37, was posed the question of what it felt like to “be back with Anna,” according to footage shared by Entertainment Tonight. “Oh, it’s the best,” Lively remarked regarding her collaboration with Kendrick, 39. “I’m so pleased to be here.”

In a similar vein, Kendrick was queried, “What does it mean to be working with Blake again?” Her answer was “Oh, you know,” as she appeared eager to continue signing autographs and taking pictures with fans.

Additionally that day, the pair took the stage at the Paramount Theatre in Austin for a Q&A alongside other cast and crew members—such as director Paul Feig and actor Henry Golding. The two stars chuckled together, engaged in private discussions, and divulged insights about the filming experience, as reported by Pay or Wait on YouTube.

The film narrates the journey of Kendrick’s character Stephanie and Lively’s character Emily as they “travel to the stunning island of Capri, Italy, for Emily’s lavish wedding to a wealthy Italian entrepreneur,” as per a summary. Kendrick previously shared with PEOPLE in October about rejoining Lively on set, describing the occasion as “delightful.”

“She resides on the East Coast, while I am on the West Coast, so our encounters aren’t frequent,” Kendrick expressed. “But it was delightful, and I believe these characters share such unique chemistry that it’s a joy to reunite the team. It feels somewhat like riding a bike.”

At the Q&A on Friday, Lively referred to Emily as her “most beloved character I’ve ever been fortunate to portray.”

“So when Paul invited us back, I was absolutely thrilled,” she said. “I felt rather apprehensive about the first film because we were unsure whether we were creating a drama or a comedy. When we queried Paul, he simply said ‘Yes,’ which wasn’t a direct response. Yet it turned out well, so I was like, ‘Alright, no anxiety, I know what I’m doing this time.’”

Lively additionally commented on Feig’s “unexpected idea” of filming in Italy, which she initially thought was “very pricey,” although she now comprehends the director’s determination. “I couldn’t grasp why it had to be Capri—now I want to settle there. I adore it so much. They serve you ice cream and lemons. It’s just enchanting,” Lively remarked, also noting her admiration for the variety of hats the island offered.

Speaking with PEOPLE at this week’s premiere, Feig, 62, also expressed that reconnecting with both Lively and Kendrick for the sequel was “an absolute blast.”

“I mean, my experience on the first film was fantastic. It always stayed with me. I just love collaborating with both of them, in addition to the entire cast,” he conveyed.

The premiere at SXSW signifies Lively’s first public appearance since her legal issues with her It Ends with Us director/co-star Justin Baldoni.

At the movie’s March 7 premiere, Kendrick avoided a question seemingly related to the It Ends With Us situation, when a Variety reporter inquired about her feelings regarding the film “being affected” by “everything happening in the world,” as had previously been reported.

“Why, what occurred?” Kendrick responded. “I experienced Ayahuasca, and the last year of my life is just a blur, but I have heard that the film is incredible.”

The SXSW premiere was among the few public outings Lively has made post-Baldoni legal disputes. In December, Lively initiated a lawsuit against Baldoni, accusing him and others of sexual harassment and orchestrating a retaliatory smear campaign. He refuted the allegations and subsequently lodged a countersuit claiming defamation and extortion against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist the following month.

Before heading to Austin, Lively and Reynolds appeared at SNL50: The Anniversary Special on February 16.

One source had previously disclosed to PEOPLE that Kendrick felt “distressed” over Instagram comments beneath the film’s poster concerning fans “refusing” to view the movie, while another source added that there “truly is no drama or rift” separating Kendrick and Lively.

Another Simple Favor will commence streaming on Prime Video on May 1.