Sydney Sweeney’s ‘The Housemaid’ Sequel Announced by Lionsgate/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Lionsgate has greenlit a sequel to Sydney Sweeney’s psychological thriller The Housemaid after its impressive global box-office performance. The sequel, The Housemaid’s Secret, will be based on the second novel in Freida McFadden’s bestselling trilogy. Sweeney and director Paul Feig are expected to return, with production slated to begin later this year.
‘The Housemaid’ Sequel News: Quick Looks
- The Housemaid earns over $133 million globally in just 17 days
- Lionsgate confirms sequel: The Housemaid’s Secret
- Based on the second book in Freida McFadden’s thriller series
- Sydney Sweeney expected to return as star and executive producer
- Paul Feig in talks to return as director
- Rebecca Sonnenshine returning as screenwriter for the sequel
- Original film made on a modest $35 million budget
- Sequel greenlit following strong social media response and ticket sales
- Sweeney rebounds after Christy’s poor box-office performance
- The Housemaid also stars Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar
Sydney Sweeney’s ‘The Housemaid’ Sequel Announced by Lionsgate
Deep Look
Following the runaway success of The Housemaid, Lionsgate has officially announced that a sequel, The Housemaid’s Secret, is in active development. The news comes less than three weeks after the Sydney Sweeney-led psychological thriller hit theaters, where it has since raked in over $133 million globally — $75 million of that from domestic audiences — despite being produced on a modest $35 million budget.
The Housemaid, adapted from Freida McFadden’s bestselling novel, has proven to be a sleeper hit of the holiday season, drawing strong box office numbers and viral buzz across social media. The sequel will be based on the second novel in McFadden’s popular trilogy, with Lionsgate aiming to build a full-fledged thriller franchise anchored by Sweeney.
Titled The Housemaid’s Secret, the follow-up is expected to bring back director Paul Feig and screenwriter Rebecca Sonnenshine, the creative team behind the first film’s atmospheric and twist-heavy success. Sweeney will not only return in the lead role but will once again serve as an executive producer, solidifying her growing role as both an on-screen and behind-the-scenes force in Hollywood.
“It’s clear from both the global box office and from the outpouring on social media that audiences have responded strongly — and audibly — to the totally unique and truly theatrical experience of The Housemaid and want to know what happens next,” said Adam Fogelson, chairman of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group, in a statement announcing the sequel.
In The Housemaid, Sweeney plays a young woman hired by a wealthy couple — portrayed by Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar — to serve as a live-in housekeeper. As the plot unfolds, secrets unravel and tensions escalate in a tightly woven psychological mystery that kept audiences on edge and drew praise for its sharp writing and tense direction.
The film has been seen as a major turning point in Sweeney’s career, offering a commercial high point following the underperformance of her critically ambitious boxing drama Christy, which grossed only $2 million worldwide in November 2025. With The Housemaid, Sweeney has demonstrated her box-office appeal and reaffirmed her ability to carry a leading role in a mainstream thriller.
Lionsgate is looking to capitalize on the momentum, and with The Housemaid’s Secret already in early development, production is slated to begin later this year. Fans of the source material will recognize that the second book continues the story’s themes of suspense, manipulation, and hidden motives, though plot details for the film adaptation remain under wraps.
The success of The Housemaid also reflects a broader audience appetite for psychological thrillers that blend domestic tension with chilling mystery — a genre that continues to thrive in both theaters and streaming platforms. Lionsgate appears poised to position The Housemaid franchise as a flagship thriller series, following in the footsteps of similar multi-part adaptations like Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train.
With its combination of a marketable lead, a proven creative team, and source material with an established fanbase, The Housemaid’s Secret is already one of the most anticipated follow-ups in Lionsgate’s upcoming film slate.
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