Lionsgate has quietly but decisively moved forward with a sequel to The Housemaid, confirming that the psychological thriller’s unexpected box office momentum has translated into long-term franchise confidence. The follow-up film, titled The Housemaid’s Secret, will reunite director Paul Feig with lead star Sydney Sweeney, with both returning to continue a collaboration that proved far more commercially potent than early projections suggested.
Released toward the end of 2025, The Housemaid steadily built its audience rather than relying on front-loaded hype. Over its first two and a half weeks in theaters, the film grossed approximately $133 million worldwide, a figure that stands out sharply in the current theatrical climate where mid-budget adult thrillers often struggle to cross even half that mark. Industry tracking across multiple outlets consistently pointed to strong word-of-mouth and repeat viewing, particularly among urban audiences, helping the film sustain weekday business and avoid the sharp second-week drops that have become common for non-franchise releases.
That sustained performance appears to have been the decisive factor for Lionsgate, which greenlit The Housemaid’s Secret after several months of quiet development. Rather than announcing a sequel immediately upon release, the studio allowed the film’s legs to do the talking. According to reports from multiple trade and mainstream entertainment publications, the sequel has been internally positioned as a continuation of a proven theatrical property rather than an experiment, with production now targeted to begin later this year.
Sydney Sweeney’s return is central to that confidence. Over the past few years, Sweeney has transitioned from being perceived primarily as a breakout television performer to a bankable theatrical presence, particularly in genre-driven cinema. In The Housemaid, her performance anchored the film’s psychological tension and gave it a character-focused intensity that resonated with audiences beyond traditional thriller demographics. For the sequel, Sweeney is also expected to remain involved behind the scenes, reinforcing her growing role as a producer-star who shapes material rather than simply headlines it.
Paul Feig’s return carries its own industry significance. Long associated with large-scale studio comedies, Feig’s pivot into darker, controlled genre storytelling has been closely watched, and The Housemaid marked one of his most commercially successful non-comedic ventures to date. Trade coverage has repeatedly highlighted how the film’s tonal restraint and emphasis on unease over spectacle distinguished it from louder studio thrillers. Lionsgate’s decision to reteam with Feig signals confidence not just in the IP, but in the specific creative direction that defined the first film.
The sequel is based on the second novel in author Freida McFadden’s best-selling Housemaid trilogy, a literary foundation that gives the franchise built-in narrative continuity. McFadden’s novels have enjoyed significant popularity in recent years, particularly among readers drawn to tightly plotted psychological suspense, and multiple sources have noted that the second book expands the story’s thematic scope without abandoning its intimate focus. This literary roadmap has reportedly been a key factor in Lionsgate’s longer-term planning, as it allows the studio to approach the franchise with a clear structural arc rather than improvising future installments.
Also returning is Michele Morrone, whose presence in the first film added an additional layer of intrigue and broadened its international appeal. Casting continuity has been emphasized in early reporting, with the studio keen to preserve the ensemble chemistry that contributed to the original film’s reception. While plot details for The Housemaid’s Secret remain tightly guarded, sources suggest the sequel will lean further into psychological manipulation and shifting power dynamics rather than escalating into conventional thriller spectacle.
Production on The Housemaid’s Secret is expected to commence later this year, with a likely release window falling sometime in late 2026 or 2027, depending on scheduling and post-production timelines. While Lionsgate has not announced a release date, the studio’s swift move to lock in key talent suggests an intent to maintain momentum rather than allow the property to cool off.
