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beaking news:**Paul Feig Says He Gave Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick Creative Freedom in *Another Simple Favor* (Exclusive)**.zin

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Paul Feig Says He Gave Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick Creative Freedom in Another Simple Favor (Exclusive)

Director Paul Feig, Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively attend the UK premiere of 'A Simple Favour' at BFI Southbank on September 17, 2018 in London, England

Director Paul Feig embraced creative collaboration with Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick on the set of Another Simple Favor.

Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE on the red carpet at the world premiere of the sequel to A Simple Favor at SXSW in Austin, Texas, on March 7, Feig explained his approach to working with actors, emphasizing their creative input.

“That’s what I always do,” said Feig, 62, noting that his background as an actor has shaped his directorial style.

“When I work with actors, I give them a lot of leeway. I want them to figure out what they want to wear, how they want to play a scene, because I was an actor, I know. If I just say, ‘Say this exactly as I wrote it,’ I’m cutting off a huge source of talent. So, in every movie and show I’ve done, I collaborate with them. I present the material, and they bring in their own ideas. That’s how I’ve worked with every movie star ever.”

Feig also expressed his excitement about reuniting with Lively, 37, and Kendrick, 39, calling the experience “a dream come true.”

“It was too much fun—almost too much fun,” Feig said. “I had such a great time making the first one, and I always thought, ‘I love working with them.’ So, when coming up with this sequel, we wanted to give them new and exciting material while bringing back the old cast and introducing fresh characters. And I’ve always wanted to shoot something in Capri, so making that happen was amazing.”

The first film, a dark comedy starring Lively and Kendrick, was released in 2018 to critical and commercial success. While the original was based on Darcey Bell’s novel of the same name, the sequel ventures into new territory beyond the book’s storyline.

In addition to Lively and Kendrick, Henry Golding reprises his role in Another Simple Favor, joining new cast members such as Elena Sofia Ricci, Elizabeth Perkins, and Allison Janney.

Another Simple Favor is set to premiere on Prime Video on May 1.