Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick have continued to keep their distance while promoting their sequel Another Simple Favor during the SXSW Film Festival in Austin on Saturday.
The Gossip Girl alum, 37 – who is rumored to have a ‘secret feud’ with the Twilight star – posed for a cast portrait amid the festivities, but notably did not stand near her other leading co-star.
Earlier on Friday, the pair made an appearance at the screening of the upcoming Amazon Prime Video movie – where Kendrick, 39, seemingly shaded Lively amid her ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni.
In the latest group picture taken at the festival, cast member Michele Morrone and director Paul Feig could be seen posing in between Blake and Anna – who flashed cheerful smiles for the camera.
Other co-stars that joined in on the snap were Henry Golding, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Elizabeth Perkins and Alex Newell.
Lively donned peach-colored trousers that contained flashy, silver embellishments as well as a matching, long coat.
Blake Lively, 37, and Anna Kendrick, 39, have continued to keep their distance while promoting their sequel Another Simple Favor during the SXSW Film Festival in Austin on Saturday
In the latest group picture taken at the festival, cast member Michele Morrone and director Paul Feig could be seen posing in between Blake and Anna – who flashed cheerful smiles for the camera
She additionally opted for a plain white shirt and slipped into a pair of shimmering, closed-toed heels to complete the look for the day.
Her blonde locks were parted to the side and flowed down in light waves past her shoulders. The star also held a martini-shaped purse for a unique flare to the outfit.
Kendrick was chic in a sleeveless dress with snakeskin material and a black belt was wrapped around her midriff.
The actress also donned a pair of open-toed, black heels that were secured with straps to complete her ensemble.
Blake and Anna reunited for the anticipated sequel which is slated to officially release later this year on May 1 – and is the sequel to the 2018 movie A Simple Favor.
The premise, ‘Follows Stephanie Smothers (Kendrick) and Emily Nelson (Lively) as they head to the beautiful island of Capri, Italy, for Emily’s extravagant wedding to a rich Italian businessman,’ per IMDB.
Also on Friday, the Pitch Perfect actress seemingly shaded Lively’s ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni as she evaded a question during a red carpet interview with Variety.
Blake is currently amidst an ongoing and publicized legal battle with her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni – which began when she sued him for sexual assault and launching a smear campaign against her late last year in December.
Also on Friday, the Pitch Perfect actress seemingly shaded Lively’s ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni as she evaded a question during a red carpet interview with Variety
It was also previously reported that Kendrick is ‘upset’ the lawsuit is overshadowing their upcoming sequel
It was also previously reported that Kendrick is ‘upset’ the lawsuit is overshadowing their upcoming sequel.
While talking to Variety, Kendrick shared a vague response when questioned about how the movie has been affected by ‘everything going on in the world.’
‘Why, what happened? I did ayahuasca and the last year of my life is just gone,’ the star replied, referencing to the plant-based psychedelic.
The actress then continued, ‘But I’ve heard the movie is amazing,’ before walking away.
Blake and Anna were also seen on the red carpet together on Friday, but director Paul Feig notably stood in between the pair for the photos.
The filmmaker reflected on working with both Lively and Kendrick once again following the 2018 film A Simple Favor and gushed to People that it was ‘too much fun.’
Paul added, ‘I mean, I had such a great experience on the first one. It always kind of stuck with me. God, I love working with the two of them, as well as the rest of the cast.’
He also revealed that he allowed the two stars to give input when it came to the production of the sequel.
Feig explained ‘that’s what I always do’ and added, ‘When I work with actors, I give them a lot of leeway. I want them to figure out what they want to wear, etc., because I was an actor, I know.
Feig also revealed that he allowed the two stars to give input when it came to the production of the sequel; seen above on Friday
‘Like if I’m just saying, “Say this. Say this the way I wrote it,” I’m cutting off this huge bit of talent.’
Paul added, ‘So every movie, every show I’ve ever done, I collaborate with them and go, “Here’s the stuff,” and they’ll come [back with], “Oh what about this? What about this?” And that’s how we work. That’s how I’ve worked with every movie star ever.’
In regards to the second film, he explained, ‘So, you know, coming up with this [sequel] just like, “We gotta get something that gives them both something great and new to do that can include the old cast but bring in a bunch of new characters.”
‘And I always wanted to shoot something in Capri, so it was a dream come true to get to figure that one out,’ Feig further expressed.
During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the director also stated: ‘Blake’s awesome. I love Blake. I love working with Anna, I love working with Blake, and that’s all I can say. She is a great collaborator. I just love working with her.’
On Friday, Anna also offered a very awkward response when questioned about working with Lively once again on their sequel.
In a now-viral video shared to X, Kendrick was filmed cheerfully greeting fans outside of the event.
At one point, one asked the actress, ‘What does it mean to be working with Blake again?’
Anna simply replied with, ‘Oh, you know…,’ and began to take selfies with others instead of further elaborating on the answer – which further fueled speculation of a feud between the two stars.
Blake was also seen mingling with fans and signing autographs in a separate video on X when she was asked a similar question – but her response was in stark contrast to Kendrick’s.
During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter , the director also stated: ‘Blake’s awesome. I love Blake. I love working with Anna, I love working with Blake, and that’s all I can say. She is a great collaborator. I just love working with her’; seen in February in NYC
On Friday, Anna also offered a very awkward response when questioned about working with Lively once again on their sequel
‘Blake, what does it mean to be back with Anna?’ a fan asked as the actress was strolling by.
‘Oh, it’s the best! I’m so happy,’ the star gushed before being guided to take additional photos during the festivities.
And while onstage inside the theater on Friday, the pair could be seen awkwardly standing next to each other as they discussed their movie.
In a video shared by Variety, Lively was filmed talking about Another Simple Favor with Anna only glancing over at her co-star only once throughout the clip.
Their joint appearance at the premiere comes amid rumors of a ‘secret feud’ between the pair.
It was previously reported that Kendrick is less than thrilled that Blake’s legal drama with Justin Baldoni is overshadowing her film Another Simple Favor with the actress.
A source told People last month, ‘The comments on Instagram have upset her, especially the ones saying fans are now refusing to watch the movie because they don’t want to support Blake.’
They further explained that the Pitch Perfect star is ‘not used to being caught up in any drama.’
However another insider shared, ‘The film is in the early stages of planning what press will look like, and Blake and Anna will be doing some things together.’
Blake was also seen mingling with fans and signing autographs in a separate video on X when she was asked a similar question – but her response was in stark contrast to Kendrick’s
It was previously reported that Kendrick is less than thrilled that Blake’s legal drama with Justin Baldoni is overshadowing her film Another Simple Favor with the actress
A separate source explained to DailyMail.com, ‘These movies are basically all Anna and Blake have in common. They have a working relationship, by no means a close friendship or bond.
‘Last-minute talks are underway with execs as Anna would prefer to distance herself from Blake going forward.’
The insider added, ‘It was originally planned that the two would do much of the promotion together. That’s what the studio requested, and Anna and Blake agreed to it. But Anna could go it alone over fears she will get caught up in the drama.’
Anna and Blake are also rumored to have clashed over their billing on the sequel and Lively failing to address the effect of her lawsuit on the movie.
Also last month, a source told DailyMail.com, ‘There is a gigantic pink elephant in the room that no one is acknowledging.
‘The backlash to initial promo has been brutal. There are people protesting and refusing to see it.’
The insider continued, ‘Blake has not addressed this. She has not called the cast to apologize. She has not done anything like that. She has stayed quiet and hidden away. She owes Anna an apology. She owes them all an apology.
A separate source explained to DailyMail.com, ‘These movies are basically all Anna and Blake have in common. They have a working relationship, by no means a close friendship or bond’; seen in 2018 in NYC
‘Anna is just over all of it. If Anna was in this position, she would not be letting the film take the fall for her own personal issues.’
In regards to the position of their names when it came to the billing, another source shared, ‘In the original film Anna got top billing over Blake. She thought it was a no-brainer that the same would happen this time around. But Blake didn’t see it that way.
‘She fought, through her reps to get top billing over Anna, who refused to bow to Blake’s demands. Finally, after weeks of negotiations a deal was struck between the actresses.
‘They agreed on staggered billing, which meant Anna’s name would read first and Blake’s would be above hers but on the right-hand side. In the business that’s considered equal billing,’ the source explained.
