365 Days star Michele Marrone set to join cast of Simple Favor 2 alongside Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick
Michele Morrone, the Italian actor and model best known to most fans for starring in the erotic drama film 365 Days and its two sequels, has joined the cast of A Simple Favor 2.
The sequel film was only just greenlit by Amazon Prime Video this week, and will stream on the streaming platform.
Paul Feig is back in the director's chair, while stars Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively are set to reprise their roles, according to Deadline.
Along with Morrone, there are a number of new additions to the cast that have been announced, including Elena Sofia Ricci, Elizabeth Perkins, Alex Newell, Taylor Ortega, and Lorenzo de Moor.
The first film, A Simple Favor (2018), was a hit with fans and critics alike, grossing $97.6 million at the worldwide box office against a budget of $20 million.
Michele Morrone, 33, is among the actors to join the cast of the sequel film Simple Favor 2
Morrone, 33, saw his star rise around the world after his performance in the lead role as Massimo Torricelli, a mafia crime boss, in 365 Days and the sequels 365 Days: This Day (2022) and The Next 365 Days (2022).
Along with his acting and modeling, the Reggio Calabria, Italy native also has a career in music, with the singer and guitarist dropping two studio albums: Dark Room (2020) and Double (2023).
According to a synopsis, A Simple Favor 2 sees the 'return of 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.
'Along with the glamorous guests, expect murder and betrayal to RSVP for a wedding with more twists and turns than the road from the Marina Grande to the Capri town square,' The Hollywood Reporter revealed.
The new script, based on characters by Bell, was written by Jessica Sharzer, who wrote the first film, with revisions by Steve Yockey, Laeta Kalogridis, and Feig.
Feigco Entertainment’s Feig and Laura Fischer will produce, with Sharzer also serving as an executive producer.
Some of the other actors who are making a return to the sequel are Aparna Nancherla, Henry Golding, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Joshua Satine, Ian Ho and Kelly McCormack.
Kendrick, 37, is excited about the sequel, saying that Stephanie has 'got like a little bit more savvy in her,' but 'she's still Stephanie at the end of the day,' per E! News.
The Italian actor, singer and model is best known to most fans for his role as Don Massimo Torricelli in #65 Days and the two sequels 365 Days: This Day and The Next 365 Days
Along with his acting and modeling, the Reggio Calabria, Italy native also has a career in music, with the singer and guitarist dropping two studio albums: Dark Room (2020) and Double (2023)
Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively are among the actors to reprise their roles in A Simple Favor 2
A Simple Favor 2 is the sequel to the 2018 dark comedy helmed by Paul Feig, who's returning for the new film, which was written by Jessica Sharzer, like the original
'I've actually read the script now,' the Oscar-nominated actress told the outlet, 'and it's so good.'
Amazon MGM Studios announced Wednesday that the sequel movie, which will be co-produced by Lions Gate, is scheduled to begin shooting this spring and will stream on Amazon Prime Video.
In the first film, which is based on the novel by Darcey Bell, Stephanie is taken with sophisticated, glamorous Emily after they bond over martinis and Stephanie is quickly made to feel somewhat insecure in front of the clearly cosmopolitan Emily.
'She's an enigma, my wife,' Emily's husband said in the original trailer for the film, before sharing the strange description 'she's like a beautiful ghost.'
According to a synopsis, A Simple Favor 2 sees the 'return of 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
'Along with the glamorous guests, expect murder and betrayal to RSVP for a wedding with more twists and turns than the road from the Marina Grande to the Capri town square,' The Hollywood Reporter revealed
A scene in a park follows, and Stephanie takes a fun photo of Emily, who quickly directs Stephanie to 'erase it,' with no explanation.
Stephanie then receives a mysterious call from Emily, who says that she needs her help with 'just a simple favor.'
A few days later, Stephanie announces on her blog that her friend Emily has apparently disappeared.
Ultimately, Stephanie starts looking into Emily's past, and is warned to not go 'poking around' because 'she is not a normal person.'
Kendrick is excited about the sequel, saying that Stephanie has 'got like a little bit more savvy in her,' but 'she's still Stephanie at the end of the day,' per E! News
Amazon MGM Studios announced Wednesday that the sequel movie, which will be co-produced by Lions Gate, is planning to begin shooting this spring and will stream on Amazon Prime Video
The first film was a hit with fans and critics, grossing $97.6 million at the worldwide box office against a budget of $20 million
Images then flash of Emily sporting magenta hair and matching thigh-high boots.
Things intensify as more voiceover explains that Emily's husband apparently took out a life insurance policy on his wife, who is now being looked for by a massive police search.
At the end of the film, Emily is sentenced to 20 years in prison and Stephanie has started a detective agency.
Upon its release to Amazon Prime Video, the crime comedy thriller film will eventually stream in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
