Freida McFadden's psychological thriller The Housemaid was released in 2022, followed by two sequels, and now Lionsgate is adapting the book into a film. In the adaptation, Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria, Anyone But You) will play Millie Calloway, a housemaid who starts working for the family of Nina, portrayed by Amanda Seyfried (Mamma Mia, In Time).
The film will be directed by Paul Feig, who is primarily known for his work in comedies, including Bridesmaids, The Heat, and A Simple Favor, though he faced some backlash with the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot. The screenplay for McFadden’s novel is being written by Rebecca Sonnenshine, who has worked on The Vampire Diaries, Outcast, and The Boys. The story follows Sweeney's character, Millie, a young woman struggling to make ends meet, who finds relief when she lands a job with a wealthy couple. However, she soon discovers that the family's secrets are far darker and more dangerous than her own.
McFadden continued the Millie Calloway story with the novels The House of Vengeance and The House of Secrets, so if the film adaptation proves successful, there is enough source material for the studio to expand it into a franchise.
"I am thrilled that The Housemaid has joined our upcoming slate of content," said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group CEO, Adam Fogelson. "A great filmmaker and a great cast brought together by an outstanding script based on a brilliant book. It was unforgettable working with Paul and Amanda before, and Sydney couldn't be more talented and captivating."
"It was fun to imagine the actors while reading the book—Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried are perfect for the roles of Millie and Nina. Both are mysterious, nuanced, and have an incredible ability to embody characters who don’t reveal everything right away," said Erin Westerman, Co-President of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, who was more measured with her use of superlatives. "We are thrilled to bring them together with Paul Feig, with whom we worked on A Simple Favor and its upcoming sequel, and who has proven his skill with stories featuring dynamic female leads."
