Blake Lively to attend 'Another Simple Favor' premiere at SXSW amid legal battle with Justin Baldoni

The actress is set to appear at the highly anticipated premiere despite ongoing legal disputes.

Blake Lively is confirmed to attend the world premiere of her upcoming movie Another Simple Favor, which is set to open the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film & TV Festival in Austin, Texas, this Friday night.

The film’s director, Paul Feig, revealed that the 37-year-old actress—who is currently embroiled in a legal dispute with It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni—will be present alongside "most" of the cast.

"Blake is the greatest," Feig told Variety. "I couldn't love her more. She's a dream to work with. She's a great collaborator. She has amazing ideas and is open to everyone's ideas. She's a pro." Feig has been vocal in his support for Lively throughout her legal troubles, even attending SNL50: The Anniversary Special with her and husband Ryan Reynolds on February 16.

The Deadpool & Wolverine star reprises her role as Emily Nelson in Another Simple Favor, the sequel to the 2018 hit film. The story follows Nelson, who, despite being sentenced to 20 years in prison for a double murder, is somehow free in the Italy-set mystery thriller.

The film also stars Anna Kendrick, Henry Golding, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Joshua Satine, Michele Morrone, Elena Sofia Ricci, Elizabeth Perkins, Alex Newell, and Allison Janney.

Lively's attendance at SXSW comes as she faces an ongoing legal battle with Baldoni. On December 20, she filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department against the 41-year-old director, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation on the set of It Ends With Us. In response, Baldoni filed a $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times for its coverage of Lively's allegations, calling it a "vicious smear campaign."

Lively then countersued on December 31, accusing Baldoni and his PR team of attempting to "undermine her reputation in retaliation." The conflict escalated further when Baldoni filed a second $400 million lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloan on January 16, citing claims of civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy. The case is set for trial in March 2026.

Despite the controversy, Another Simple Favor is moving forward with its highly anticipated release. The cast and crew will gather at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Austin for the premiere, with an additional screening scheduled for Saturday morning at The Hyatt Regency. Future premieres are planned for New York City and Los Angeles ahead of the film’s Prime Video debut on May 1.

The original A Simple Favor earned an impressive 84% critic approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed $97.6 million globally. With its star-studded cast and high expectations, the sequel is expected to draw significant attention—both for its on-screen drama and the real-life controversies surrounding its lead actress.