The Housemaid Sequel: Everything to Know
4 min readFollowing the box office success of the psychological thriller The Housemaid, Lionsgate is officially moving forward with a sequel. On January 6, the studio confirmed that the follow-up, The Housemaid’s Secret, is underway and has been in development “for the past few months,” according to a press release.
The Housemaid, which debuted in theaters in December 2025, stars Sydney Sweeney as Millie, a woman who takes a live-in housekeeping job for a wealthy couple, Nina and Andrew Winchester (Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar), only to discover that their seemingly perfect household is hiding dangerous secrets.
Based on Freida McFadden’s bestselling novel, the Paul Feig-directed film earned strong global ticket sales, helping pave the way for another big-screen feature. Below, everything we know so far about the sequel.
What will The Housemaid’s Secret be about?
The Housemaid’s Secret will be based on McFadden’s 2023 novel, the second work in her Housemaid thriller trilogy. While Lionsgate has not released an official plot synopsis for the film adaptation, the book sequel expands Millie’s story as she attempts to move forward from her past, only to find herself drawn into another unsettling household.
In the source material, Millie is still struggling to secure steady work after her felony conviction when she accepts a position with a wealthy Manhattan couple, the Garricks. Douglas Garrick, the CEO of Coinstock, employs Millie to help care for his wife, Wendy, who he claims is unwell and confined to a bedroom in their home. As Millie settles into the job, she begins to notice troubling inconsistencies in the household, including signs that Wendy may be living under control or harm rather than illness.
As her concerns grow, Millie discovers evidence that confirms her fears, prompting her to step in. Drawing on her experience helping women escape abusive situations, Millie attempts to intervene, setting off a chain of escalating events and revelations that upend everything she thought she knew.
The book expands on the psychological tension established in the first installment, leaning into themes of trust, manipulation, and power dynamics behind closed doors. It was a hit in its own right, accounting for roughly 4 million copies sold out of more than 12 million total books across the trilogy, per Lionsgate.
When will The Housemaid’s Secret come out?
There’s no official release date yet, but Lionsgate confirmed in January that production on The Housemaid’s Secret is targeting a 2026 start. An exact filming schedule has not been shared.
Who will be in the cast of The Housemaid’s Secret?
Sweeney will reprise her role as Millie, with Michele Morrone also set to return as Enzo, according to People. Kirsten Dunst and Paul Anthony Kelly have also joined the sequel’s cast, with Dunst set to play Wendy Garrick.
On August 31, TheWrap reported that Off Campus star Stephen Kalyn had joined the film as Brock, a lawyer who begins dating Millie as she attempts to build a more conventional life for herself.
Seyfried’s Nina Winchester does not play a major role in the follow-up novel, but the actress has expressed interest in returning. At the Palm Springs International Film Festival on January 3, she told Variety, “I almost guarantee that I’m gonna be some small cameo in it.” Reflecting on Sweeney’s character, she added, “I really want to see how she keeps Nina Winchester in her pocket, because I will jump the fuck back into that.”
Who will direct The Housemaid’s Secret?
Feig, who directed the first film, will return as director and producer, alongside producers Todd Lieberman and Laura Fischer. Rebecca Sonnenshine, who adapted McFadden’s original novel for the screen, is also returning to write the sequel. Additionally, Sweeney and McFadden will again serve as executive producers.
“We’re lucky that Freida McFadden has already extended Millie’s journey on the page, and that we get to work with Rebecca Sonnenshine and Lionsgate to bring this next story to audiences,” Feig said in a statement.
Will there be more Housemaid movies after the sequel?
McFadden published a third novel, The Housemaid Is Watching, in 2024, potentially leaving the door open for additional film adaptations. Sweeney has already signaled her enthusiasm for continuing the role.
“I was such a huge fan of the books, so I would be just as happy as everyone else being able to see more Housemaids come to life and getting to explore more of Millie,” she told People in December 2025. “She’s spicy. She is a fighter. She knows what she believes in, and she stands up for it. I love characters like that,” she continued, adding, “I love seeing movies that have just fully embraced female rage.”
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