During the SXSW premiere, the duo discussed their connection to their respective characters and Feig's "curveball idea" of shooting in Italy. Kendrick previously told PEOPLE in October that reuniting with Lively on set was "lovely.

Paul Feig spoke out at SXSW after YouTuber Melanie King claimed Lively, 37, was afraid to walk the red carpet because Kendrick, 39, was upset with her.

Another Simple Favor director Paul Feig has slammed a YouTuber's claims of a rift between its stars Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick. Lively made a rare public appearance amid her legal feud with her It Ends with Us director and co-star Justin Baldoni at the premiere of the A Simple Favor sequel at SXSW in Austin,