Lionsgate is bringing Freida McFadden’s bestselling thriller The Housemaid to the big screen, and the studio has lined up an A-list team to bring the suspenseful story to life. Emmy-nominated actress Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria, The White Lotus) and Emmy-winner Amanda Seyfried (The Dropout) are set to star, with Paul Feig (A Simple Favor) attached to direct. The project promises to be an intense psychological thriller filled with dark secrets and twists.
A Story of Deception and Danger
In the film adaptation of The Housemaid, Sweeney will take on the role of Millie, a struggling woman desperate for a fresh start. She lands a job as a housemaid for the seemingly perfect and wealthy couple Nina (played by Seyfried) and Andrew. However, Millie soon realizes that the family she works for harbors dangerous secrets, which threaten to unravel her life.
Rebecca Sonnenshine (The Boys) is penning the screenplay, adapted from Freida McFadden’s hit novel. The novel, which has been on the New York Times bestseller list for 75 weeks and counting, has become a global phenomenon. It’s been translated into 40 languages and sold over 3.6 million copies, boasting half a billion pages read on Kindle.
Big Names Behind the Camera
The film will be helmed by Paul Feig, a director known for crafting sharp, character-driven stories with strong female leads. His recent work includes the 2018 hit A Simple Favor and its upcoming sequel. Feig will also serve as a producer alongside Todd Lieberman from Hidden Pictures, with Sweeney and Seyfried stepping into executive producer roles as well.
“We’re thrilled to have The Housemaid join our upcoming slate,” said Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. “A great filmmaker and a great cast with a great script from a great book is a terrific place to start. Sydney and Amanda are both as talented as they are compelling, and Paul Feig is a master at bringing stories with dynamic female characters to the screen.”
Building on Prior Success
Lionsgate has every reason to be optimistic about the film’s success. Feig has worked with the studio before, delivering the hit thriller A Simple Favor, starring Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick, which is currently set for a sequel. The studio is banking on the potent combination of Sweeney and Seyfried, whose most recent projects have received widespread critical and audience acclaim.
Sweeney has been on a hot streak, appearing in Sony’s romantic comedy Anyone But You and the horror thriller Immaculate. Meanwhile, Seyfried earned an Emmy for her portrayal of Elizabeth Holmes in the Hulu series The Dropout. Their collaboration on The Housemaid promises a tense and captivating on-screen dynamic.
A Proven Formula for Success
The popularity of McFadden’s novel ensures an established fan base eagerly awaiting the film adaptation. The book has consistently performed well, staying on Amazon’s bestseller list for 98 weeks and racking up impressive reader stats on Kindle.
In an interview, Erin Westerman, co-president of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group, emphasized how the casting felt natural: “Part of the fun of the book was imagining the cast while we read it, and Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried are perfect for Millie and Nina – they’re both mysterious, nuanced, and incredibly skilled at becoming characters who don’t reveal everything right away.”
With the talent both in front of and behind the camera, The Housemaid is set to be a must-watch thriller that will keep audiences guessing until the very end.
—
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com