Fans were surprised this week when Anna Kendrick appeared by name in newly unsealed court documents tied to Blake Lively’s ongoing legal dispute with Justin Baldoni over It Ends With Us.
The mention raised eyebrows, especially among Kendrick’s fanbase, but the connection is ultimately straightforward: Kendrick and Lively have worked together professionally. The actresses starred opposite one another in the 2018 thriller A Simple Favor and reunited years later for its sequel, Another Simple Favor.
While the pair have shared screen time, there’s no indication they maintain a close personal friendship beyond their on-set collaborations.
Following the public emergence of Lively’s lawsuit against Baldoni in late 2024, Kendrick and Lively embarked on a promotional tour for Another Simple Favor in early 2025. During press stops, Lively largely avoided questions about the legal drama, whereas Kendrick deflected with humor.
At the SXSW premiere in March 2025, Kendrick offered a playful non-answer when asked by Entertainment Weekly about working with Lively, quickly pivoting away from the topic. Later, speaking to Variety, Kendrick joked that she was unaware of any controversy, quipping that she had “done ayahuasca” and missed the past year entirely before praising the film.
Lively, by contrast, kept her response brief and positive when asked about Kendrick, telling Entertainment Weekly that the experience was “the best.”
As the It Ends With Us lawsuit progresses, more than 180 legal documents were unsealed in January 2026 including Lively’s deposition. Within that testimony, Kendrick’s name arose during routine questioning.
According to court records, Lively was asked whether she had worked on a film with Kendrick following It Ends With Us. Lively clarified the timeline carefully, explaining that while she filmed Another Simple Favor after completing It Ends With Us, the project occurred before the legal battle became public. She emphasized the distinction to ensure her testimony remained accurate.
Despite years-old rumors suggesting tension between the two actresses during the filming of A Simple Favor, sources told Us Weekly in February 2025 that there were no current issues between them.
“There aren’t any problems between Blake and Anna right now,” one insider said.
Kendrick has previously described their dynamic as professional but stylistically different. In a 2018 interview, she noted that while Lively was “genuinely great” to work with, their approaches on set didn’t necessarily align a comparison she likened to different “partner-in-crime” energies rather than conflict.
For now, Kendrick’s appearance in the deposition appears to be procedural rather than personal, stemming from shared film projects rather than any involvement in the dispute itself.
Source: US Weekly