Following Sydney Sweeney’s box office success, a sequel to ‘The Housemaid’ has been greenlit, and plans to create a franchise are underway.
Just weeks after its release, ‘The Housemaid’ has proven to be more than just a sleeper hit—it’s now poised to become a franchise.
Lionsgate has confirmed that a sequel, titled ‘The Housemaid’s Secret,’ is in development and is expected to begin production later this year. This sequel will be based on the second novel in Freida McFadden’s bestselling psychological thriller trilogy, continuing the story that captivated both readers and filmgoers.
The announcement comes on the heels of ‘The Housemaid’s’ impressive box office performance. The film grossed $75 million domestically and nearly $133 million worldwide in just 17 days, an extraordinary result for a thriller made on a relatively modest $35 million budget. Released amidst stiff competition during the holiday season, the film benefited from positive audience reception and social media buzz.
Directed by Paul Feig, ‘The Housemaid’ stars Sydney Sweeney as Millie, a troubled woman who takes a job as a housemaid for a wealthy couple played by Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar—only to discover that the house’s secrets are far darker than she imagined.
Lionsgate has indicated that Feig is expected to return to direct the sequel, while Sweeney is already attached as an executive producer and is being considered to reprise her leading role. Rebecca Sonnenshine, the screenwriter of the first film, is also returning to pen the sequel’s script. Freida McFadden will again serve as an executive producer. Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chairman Adam Fogelson said in a statement, “The response has been strong and clear. Audiences have connected deeply with ‘The Housemaid’ and are eager to see what happens next in Millie’s story.”
This success marks a major box office comeback for Sweeney. Her previous awards-targeted boxing drama ‘Christy’ earned a disappointing $2 million worldwide. With ‘The Housemaid,’ the actress has achieved one of the biggest commercial successes of her career, further solidifying her status as a reliable theatrical star.
Although Seyfried’s character is not prominently featured in McFadden’s second novel, sources say the studio is keen to find a way to include her in the sequel. Seyfried also received an executive producer credit on the upcoming film. The producers of ‘The Housemaid’s Secret’ include Todd Lieberman, Laura Fisher, Paul Feig, Carly Elter, Alex Young, and Sydney Sweeney, and Lionsgate executives Chelsea Kujawa and Maria Ascanio are overseeing the project.
With its international release continuing and its popularity growing, ‘The Housemaid’ has quickly transformed from a holiday gamble into one of Lionsgate’s most successful genre launches in recent years — and its sequel is already on the way.