Netflix isn’t the only studio riding high on franchise success, Lionsgate has confirmed The housemaid returns to theaters with a sequel that reunites star Sydney Sweeney and director Paul Feig for the next chapter of the psychological thriller.
The Housemaid’s Secretbased on the second book in Freida McFadden’s bestselling series, is officially in development with plans to begin production later in 2026.
The announcement comes just a few weeks later The housemaid made a splash at the box office, grossing more than $133 million globally from a relatively modest budget of $35 million.
The original film, which premiered on December 19, 2025, follows Millie Calloway (Sweeney), a woman who lies on her resume to become a live-in nanny for a wealthy family, only to discover disturbing secrets that disrupt everyone’s lives.
Lionsgate’s plans for The Housemaid’s Secret see Sweeney return not only as star but also as an executive producer, with Feig once again directing and Rebecca Sonnenshine returning to write the script.
Co-star Michele Morrone, who plays Millie’s complicated ally Enzo, is expected to reprise his role and help anchor the sequel around familiar faces.
The Housemaid’s Secret is taken from McFadden’s follow-up novel in the series, which promises to take Millie into a new, equally unsettling environment as she begins working for another wealthy family with hidden tensions of her own.
The decision to fast-track a sequel reflects both the film’s strong audience response and its commercial success during a busy holiday season.
Lionsgate executives highlighted how the global box office performance and social media buzz showed a clear demand for more of Millie’s story.
Amanda Seyfried, who appeared in the first film as Nina Winchester, has indicated that she would be open to a cameo in future installments.
Sweeney herself has previously expressed excitement about adapting several of McFadden’s books, saying she would be just as happy “to see more Housemaids come to life.”
With filming scheduled to begin later this year, The Housemaid’s Secret aims to build on the momentum of its prequel and deepen the franchise’s mix of suspense, intrigue and character drama when it arrives in theaters in the next phase of the story.
