Success in modern cinema rarely whispers. It announces itself loudly, quickly, and with follow-ups already in motion. That’s exactly the position The Housemaid now finds itself in, as Lionsgate confirms plans for a sequel, with production set to begin later this year.
The studio has announced that The Housemaid’s Secret, adapted from the second novel in Freida McFadden’s bestselling trilogy, is officially in development. Following the first film’s global box office haul of $133 million since its release last month, the decision feels less like a gamble and more like an inevitability.
Central to that momentum is Sydney Sweeney, who is set to return as an executive producer and is being eyed to reprise her role as Millie Calloway. Sweeney starred in the original alongside Amanda Seyfried, anchoring the psychological thriller with a performance that balanced vulnerability and calculation in equal measure.
In The Housemaid, Sweeney’s Millie is a young woman desperate to outrun her past, only to find herself employed as a live-in housemaid for the affluent, and deeply unsettling, Nina and Andrew Winchester. What begins as a chance at stability quickly curdles into something darker, as secrets pile up and power dynamics shift.
The sequel will continue that story, drawing directly from McFadden’s second book, with Lionsgate signalling confidence in the property’s long-term potential. The studio has also expressed hope that Michele Morrone will return as Enzo, the enigmatic Italian groundskeeper whose presence loomed large in the first film’s uneasy atmosphere.
Behind the camera, Paul Feig is once again part of the picture. While best known for high-profile comedies such as Bridesmaids and The Heat, Feig has increasingly leaned into darker, genre-driven material in recent years. He is confirmed to return as a producer, and Lionsgate has said it is keen for him to also step back into the director’s chair.
Reflecting on the film’s reception, Feig said: “It’s been thrilling to see audiences around the world fall in love with The Housemaid and the incredible work of our talented cast and crew.” It’s a measured statement, but one that underlines how sharply the film connected with audiences beyond its initial expectations.
That enthusiasm is echoed at studio level. Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson described the sequel in emphatic terms: “The Housemaid’s Secret is another wildly thrilling book in Freida’s series that has captivated readers worldwide, and we look forward to translating it into a similarly rousing and riotous movie-going experience.”
What’s notable here is how deliberately the franchise is being positioned. With Sweeney producing as well as starring, Feig shaping the project from development onward, and McFadden’s existing readership baked into the equation, The Housemaid isn’t being treated as a one-off hit, but as a foundation.
If the sequel lands with the same precision as its predecessor, this may be one secret Lionsgate has no trouble keeping out in the open.
