‘The Housemaid’s Secret’ Begins Filming as Lionsgate Doubles Down on Its Surprise Blockbuster Thriller

Few thrillers came out of nowhere quite like ‘The Housemaid‘. Freida McFadden’s bestselling novels were already a publishing phenomenon, and Lionsgate spotted their cinematic potential early, optioning the trilogy before the books exploded. The bet has paid off in a very big way.

The first film, directed by Paul Feig and starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, opened in December 2025 to $19 million. It went on to collect $125 million domestically and nearly $400 million worldwide on a modest $35 million budget. It was the breakout hit of the holiday season and later found renewed popularity on streaming.

Now the sequel is officially under way. ‘The Housemaid’s Secret’, widely known as ‘The Housemaid 2’, has begun filming, and a 15-second behind-the-scenes video from the official account offers a first glimpse of the set. The film is scheduled to open in theaters on December 17, 2027, exactly 2 years after the original.

The sequel is based on the second book in McFadden’s trilogy. Millie starts over with a new housekeeping job in Manhattan, working for Douglas Garrick, who says his wife, Wendy, is too ill to be seen. Millie soon notices behavior and details suggesting something far more troubling is happening inside the apartment.

The official logline puts it this way: she takes a job keeping house for a woman she’s never allowed to see, only to discover the truth behind the locked door, which threatens to expose secrets far darker than her own. It’s a setup that mirrors the first film’s slow-burn dread while shifting the location and stakes.

Sydney Sweeney returns as Millie Calloway and also executive produces. Michele Morrone is back as Enzo, while Kirsten Dunst joins as Wendy Garrick and Paul Anthony Kelly plays Douglas. Brittany Snow has also joined the cast.

Amanda Seyfried hasn’t been announced for the sequel, though she has told Variety she could see herself making a brief appearance. Brandon Sklenar’s Andrew Winchester meets a fatal end in the first film, so he’s not expected back. That leaves room for a very different dynamic this time around.

Bet you’ve been waiting for this. The Housemaid’s Secret – now in production. https://t.co/RjBuQ2eF72

— The Housemaid (@HousemaidMovie) October 15, 2026

Paul Feig is back to direct, working from a script by Rebecca Sonnenshine, who adapted the first book. They’re joined by producers Todd Lieberman of Hidden Pictures, Laura Fischer of Feig’s Pretty Dangerous Pictures and Sweeney through Fifty-Fifty Films. McFadden serves as an executive producer.

Feig told Deadline at the Oscars that production would take place in the fall. That timeline has held, and the cameras are now rolling. Lionsgate announced the sequel just 17 days after the first film’s release, when it had already passed $133 million worldwide.

The studio clearly sees a long-term opportunity. Lionsgate has said it hopes to turn ‘The Housemaid’ into a major film franchise, with plans to adapt more of McFadden’s work. A third novel, ‘The Housemaid Is Watching’, is waiting in the wings.

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chairman Adam Fogelson said audiences responded strongly to the theatrical experience and want to know what happens next. That sentiment fits the film’s reputation as an audience-friendly shocker, the kind that gets people talking in theaters.

The release date is ambitious. ‘The Housemaid’s Secret’ is set to debut on the same day as ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ and ‘Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum’. Those are both male-skewing franchises, which could leave the thriller room to carve out its own audience.

The first film showed what that audience can do. With a new director-star reunion, a fresh cast and a juicy premise, the sequel has a strong shot at delivering another twisty holiday hit. The cameras are rolling, and the secrets are just starting to unravel.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!