Latest news with #ASimpleFavour
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Justin Baldoni can obtain Taylor Swift's private text messages with Blake Lively, judge rules
Taylor Swift has once again found herself reluctantly entangled in Hollywood drama. According to a TMZ report, a judge has ruled that Justin Baldoni's production company, Wayfarer Studios, can pursue certain communications between the Cruel Summer hitmaker and her close friend, Blake Lively, amid a heated legal battle over the film It Ends With Us. The report states that Lively, who stars in the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's novel of the same name, had urged the court to block Baldoni's team from accessing her private messages with Swift. Lively argued that Baldoni, who also directed the film, was using her high-profile friendship with the Blank Space singer to stir public attention. She further alleged that he and Wayfarer Studios were attempting to deflect from more serious allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation. The judge, however, ruled that there could be messages between Swift and Lively relevant to the ongoing dispute. Reportedly, the court assured that any obtained communications would be protected under a confidentiality order to address privacy concerns. Swift's name was first dragged into the matter when Baldoni's legal team subpoenaed her for information. Although the demand was later withdrawn, Lively's representatives insisted the damage had already been done. In a strong statement to TMZ, Blake Lively's representatives criticized Baldoni's 'relentless efforts to exploit Swift's popularity' and asserted that there is no connection between Taylor Swift and the claims made by Lively. They also clarified that the court never ordered Lively to produce new documents, contrary to public belief, and that the A Simple Favour actor had already produced more documents than Wayfarer Studios. Justin Baldoni's team has yet to issue a statement on the court's ruling. According to a BBC report, Justin Baldoni had subpoenaed Taylor Swift in May to provide information regarding claims that the pop star allegedly pressured him to accept script revisions proposed by Blake Lively for the film. Baldoni reportedly stated that he was invited to Lively's New York home in 2023 to discuss the matter in the presence of her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and Swift. In response, Swift's representatives clarified that she had no role in any casting or creative decisions and had never seen an edit or provided notes on the film. ALSO READ: Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni feud: Judge rules in favour of It Ends with Us director, her distress case faces setback Yes, Taylor Swift and Blake Lively have been close friends for years. There is no public statement confirming an apology. However, Lively's legal team maintains that Swift is being wrongly used in the case and continues to defend her privacy. While not directly about Lively, Taylor used the names of Blake and Ryan Reynolds' children – James, Inez and Betty – in her song Betty from the Folklore album. Yes, Taylor is close to both Blake Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. The trio often spend time together, and Reynolds has expressed admiration for Swift in interviews.
New Straits Times
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Henry's back for 'Another Simple Favour'
MALAYSIA'S "Mr Hollywood" Henry Golding is back in a dark drama-comedy, which reunites him with director Paul Feig and popular actresses Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively. On Prime Video since May 1, 'Another Simple Favour' sees him reprise his role from 2018's dark comedy 'A Simple Favour' as a Sean Townsend, a good man torn between two women, namely his villainous former wife Emily and his honest-to-goodness current one, Stephanie. In 'A Simple Favour', Stephanie Smothers (Kendrick), a mummy vlogger, formed an unexpected friendship with the ultra-chic Emily Nelson (Lively), a fellow mother at her son's school. When Emily asked Stephanie to watch her son for a few hours while she was away at work, what seemed like a simple favour quickly spiralled into a labyrinth of secrets, lies and shocking revelations. Emily mysteriously disappeared, and Stephanie was determined to find out what, or who, was behind her friend's sudden disappearance. She uncovered the shocking truth: Emily had killed her twin sister, Faith, and staged her own death to start a new life. When Emily's dark past was finally exposed, she was sentenced to 20 years in prison. In a recent interview, Feig said: "In 'Another Simple Favour', Stephanie and Emily reunite on the breathtaking island of Capri, Italy for Emily's extravagant wedding. "But beneath the stunning scenery and glamorous fashion lies imminent danger, dark secrets, and the chilling possibility of murder that threatens everyone on the island. "This thrilling sequel takes everything fans loved about the original 2018 dark comedy and amplifies it — delivering even more show stopping fashion, high-stakes drama, and suspense. "Set against the backdrop of a breathtakingly beautiful location, the film reunites the original cast while introducing a new group of mysterious characters. "No one is safe, and every moment leaves you guessing, right up until the end." Many of the original movie's characters are back, such as Andrew Rannells as Stephanie's friend Darren, and Joshua Satine and Ian Ho as Stephanie's son Miles, and Emily's son Nicky respectively. Golding said that he was immediately excited by the script. "My initial reaction was one of just – How fun!" said the star of films like 'Crazy Rich Asians' and 'Last Christmas'. "I think Paul leaned into what everybody loved about the first film, and he wasn't afraid to amp it up and make those twists and turns even more shocking and graphic." Golding added that Sean certainly gets to cut loose. "He's only in Capri to accompany his son Nicky at his mother's second wedding, and he gets through the occasion by unwinding a little bit too hard, often acting outrageously, all filters removed. "I told Paul, I want to make sure Sean has a fun time in this one because he was a bit of a punchbag in the last movie. "So this time he has some barbed edges as he gets roped back into Emily's world." VLOGGING Feig said that Stephanie's vlog — which she has used to chronicle the investigation — has catapulted her to social media fame and part-time detective work. "Stephanie has reaped the rewards of her viral success, solving several more cases since Emily's incarceration. "However a recent case has her wrestling with guilt that she cannot seem to shake. "Stephanie puts her vlog on hiatus and is reluctant to celebrate the release of her first true-crime book which recounts the wild twists of Emily's case." Feig added that what begins as a routine day takes a shocking turn when to Stephanie's astonishment, standing before her is Emily, whom she thought had been serving a 20-year sentence for murder. "Emily reveals she's been released on appeal and about to jet off to Capri to marry a mysterious man from her past, Dante Versano. "She has a surprising favour to ask of Stephanie: to be her maid of honour." Feig admitted that after the release of the first film in 2018, he had no intention of creating a sequel. Despite the film's impressive box office performance, earning nearly US$100 million on a US$20 million budget, the idea of a sequel remained off the table. Feig explained: "During the pandemic, a lot more people discovered the film on streaming, and its popularity surged. "So, my team decided to get a second movie." THRILLER Feig, who had previously directed global hit female-led comedies such as 'Bridesmaids' and 'Spy', had always been averse to sequels, until now. "But Anna and Blake really stuck in my head, and I felt like there's something more to be done with them. "I wanted to see these two women take the next step and join together against a common adversary." Feig knew the exact ingredients needed for a great sequel. "It's a real delicate balance, and I feel we came up with exactly what we needed to have, which is a twisty, sexy, unexpected adventure thriller. "It was also fun to take Stephanie out of suburbia and drop her into the over the top European opulence of Capri." Several new players have joined the cast, including Italian actor Michele Morrone as Emily's wealthy mafia boss husband-to-be, Dante Versano, Italian actress Elena Sofia Ricci as Dante's mother, Portia and Oscar-winning actress Allison Janney of 'The West Wing' fame as Dante's aunt Linda.
Sky News AU
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
‘Better than Blake Lively does it': Zendaya the ‘highlight' at 2025 Met Gala
Royal Commentator Josh Rom praises Zendaya's choice of clothing at the 2025 Met Gala. 'Zendaya, for me, is a real highlight in this beautiful white suit with flared trousers and a gorgeous hat,' Mr Rom told Sky News Digital Presenter Gabriela Power. 'I feel that she's doing Blake Lively in A Simple Favour better than Blake Lively does it.'
Perth Now
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Another Simple Favour director Paul Feig 'open' to Spy sequel
Paul Feig is open to a 'Spy' sequel - but only if Jason Statham agrees to return. The director of the hit 2015 comedy action flick - which sees CIA analyst Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) become a field agent when she "volunteers to infiltrate an arms deal and stop a global catastrophe" - said if any movie was going to "have a sequel, it'll probably be 'Spy'". Paul - who previously said he "don't do sequels" because they are "hard" to do - told HeyUGuys: "I mean, if there was ever going to be another movie that'll have a sequel, it'll probably be 'Spy'. "So, you know, never say never." His 'Another Simple Favour' co-star Henry Golding reminded Paul that the "conscientious is that 'Spy' has to be remade', to which 'The Housemaid' actor replied: "I think it must - it seems to be, yeah, exactly." After interviewer Freda Cooper said that a sequel can only be made on "one condition" - that Jason Statham will reprise his role as agent Rick Ford - Paul said: "There's no 'Spy' without Jason Statham, and I love him to death. "He's the greatest." His comments come as he released the new story for his 2018 thriller comedy 'A Simple Favour' - which follows a single mom called Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) and her friend Emily Nelson's (Blake Lively) husband Sean Townsend (Henry Golding) solve the mystery behind Emily's disappearance - and he thinks the franchise "could go on" as the ending of the sequel allows for a third movie to happen. Asked if he would be open to a threequel, Paul admitted: "You know what, once you've pulled the band-aid off, you might as well keep going. "I definitely think this franchise could go on [to do] another one. "The door's slightly open." Paul previously insisted he doesn't do sequels at the Deadline Contenders Television panel for the film because it is "hard" for audiences, who are "burned by a lot of sequels", to "answer that question" of "why do I need to see this?".
NZ Herald
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Blake Lively opens up about ‘intense year' amid It Ends With Us lawsuits: ‘Highest highs and lowest lows'
'I see so many women around, afraid to speak – especially right now – afraid to share their experiences. And fear is by design. It's what keeps us silent. But I also acknowledge that many people don't have the opportunity to speak. So I do feel fortunate that I've been able to,' Lively said. 'It's the women who have had the ability to use this voice that's kept me strong and helped me in my belief and my fight for the world to be safer for women and girls.' She said her four children had been her 'lifeline'. 'No matter what day I'm having, I have to be Disneyland for them.' Lively first filed a lawsuit against her co-star Baldoni in December 2024 alleging sexual harassment and a smear campaign against her. Baldoni denied this and sued Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist in return for US$400 million ($672.5m) defamation and extortion. A trial date has been set for March 2026. Last month, it was reported that Taylor Swift and Hugh Jackman could be subpoenaed in the case, which would draw more attention to the court battle. Swift is known to be a close friend of Reynolds and Lively, and is godmother to one of their four children. In the meantime, Lively is promoting Another Simple Favour, the sequel to 2018's A Simple Favour, in which she stars alongside Anna Kendrick.
