Hollywood Mystery: Sharon Stone Was in ‘Another Simple Favor’—Until She Wasn’t!

Sharon Stone’s experience with the upcoming sequel Another Simple Favor appears to have taken an unexpected turn. The actress, best known for her role in Casino, revealed that she was initially cast in the film but was unexpectedly dropped from the project without any explanation or warning.

In an Instagram Reel shared by E! News, Stone humorously remarked on her sudden exit from the Paul Feig-directed thriller, commenting, “I LOVED being cast and removed from my role unexpectedly, for no reason at all LOVED it.” Her cryptic remark indicates a sense of confusion and frustration, though it was delivered with a touch of sarcasm.

While Stone’s involvement in the film had not been previously reported, her comment certainly raised eyebrows. The sequel to A Simple Favor, which starred Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick, is set for release on May 1, 2025. Despite Stone’s brief mention, there has been no further information regarding why she was removed from the film, and reps for Stone, Feig, and Amazon MGM Studios have yet to comment on the matter.

Stone’s surprise dismissal follows closely on the heels of director Paul Feig’s efforts to shut down rumors of tension between Kendrick and Lively at the Another Simple Favor premiere at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin. The rumors were fueled by a cryptic response from Kendrick to a fan question about working with Lively again. One YouTuber speculated that Lively was “terrified to walk the carpet” due to past tensions, but Feig quickly addressed the issue, refuting the claim on X (formerly Twitter) with a simple, “Um… you’re wrong.”

Despite the swirling rumors, Lively had nothing but positive things to say about her experience on the sequel. “I love this character so much—this is probably my favorite character I’ve ever been fortunate enough to play,” she said during the film’s premiere on March 7, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Lively, who was nervous about the first film’s tone, explained how Feig had told her and Kendrick that Another Simple Favor would be a mix of drama and comedy, which led to some initial unease about the film’s direction.

However, Lively revealed that Feig threw them a curveball just before shooting began, which she called an “unexpected” change that made the sequel even more challenging. She didn’t give specifics about the twist, but admitted that it made the film “very uncomfortable to watch” at the premiere.

While Lively’s comments reveal her excitement and nerves around the project, Stone’s experience reflects the unpredictable nature of Hollywood casting, where actors often face abrupt changes to their roles and careers. As the film’s May release date approaches, fans will no doubt be curious to see what the sequel holds—and what role, if any, Stone’s unexpected removal played in the final production.