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Lionsgate is officially moving forward with a sequel to its holiday box office hit The Housemaid, targeting a 2026 production start as the studio looks to build on the film's strong commercial momentum.
The follow-up, titled The Housemaid's Secret, is based on the second novel in Freida McFadden's bestselling thriller trilogy and has been quietly in development for several months. Sydney Sweeney is expected to return in the lead role of Millie Calloway and is also eyeing an executive producer credit on the project. Michele Morrone is likewise expected to reprise his role as Enzo, the enigmatic groundskeeper.
Paul Feig, who directed the first installment, is anticipated to return behind the camera, working once again from a script by Rebecca Sonnenshine, who adapted the original film. Producing duties are set to be handled by Todd Lieberman of Hidden Pictures alongside Feig and Laura Fischer of Pretty Dangerous Pictures, with Carly Elter and Alex Young also producing. McFadden will serve as an executive producer.
The sequel will be overseen by Lionsgate executives Chelsea Kujawa and Maria Ascanio, who shepherded the first film through development and release. Robert Melnik negotiated the deals on behalf of the studio.
"It's clear from both the global box office and the outpouring on social media that audiences have responded strongly to The Housemaid and want to know what happens next," said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson. "We believed in these stories from the very beginning, and we're excited to continue Millie's journey with the same creative partners."
The Housemaid has emerged as one of the season's surprise success stories, grossing more than $75 million domestically within its first 17 days and approximately $133 million worldwide to date, with several international markets still rolling out through January.
The film stars Sweeney alongside Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar, centering on Millie, a woman attempting to escape her past by accepting a live-in housekeeping job with a wealthy couple whose seemingly perfect life masks far darker secrets. Morrone portrays Enzo, who becomes an unexpected ally as the danger escalates.
Published in 2023, The Housemaid's Secret follows Millie into a new household where familiar patterns of manipulation and peril quickly resurface. The Housemaid book series has sold more than 12 million copies worldwide, cementing its appeal ahead of the next chapter's big-screen adaptation.
