Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried to Star in ‘The Housemaid’

‘A Simple Favor’s Paul Feig is aboard to direct the new movie, which will be based on Freida McFadden’s bestselling novel of family secrets.

(Left) Sydney Sweeney in 'Euphoria.' Photograph by Eddy Chen/HBO. (Right) Amanda Seyfried in 'The Crowded Room,' premiering June 9, 2023 on Apple TV+.

Preview:

Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried are boarding a new thriller called ‘The Housemaid.’
Paul Feig is set to direct the movie for Lionsgate.
Rebecca Sonnenshine is adapting the bestselling novel by Freida McFadden.

These days, if a studio can entice Sydney Sweeney to star in their movie, they will put Sydney Sweeney in their movie. Lionsgate is no doubt happy, then, that the ‘Immaculate’ and ‘Anyone But You’ actor has sealed a deal to star in a new thriller called ‘The Housemaid’ alongside Amanda Seyfried.

The film –– which will adapt Freida McFadden’s popular novel, rather than have anything to do with the Korean movie of the same name –– will see Paul Feig in the director’s chair.

What’s the story of ‘The Housemaid’?

Sydney Sweeney talks 'Immaculate.'

With Rebecca Sonnenshine (who has written movies such as ‘The Keeping Hours’ and ‘Within’) adapting McFadden’s book, ‘The Housemaid’ sees Sweeney playing Millie, a struggling young woman who is relieved to get a fresh start as a housemaid to Nina (Seyfried) and Andrew, an upscale, wealthy couple.

But Millie soon learns that the family’s secrets are far more dangerous than her own.

McFadden’s novel has sat on the New York Times Bestseller List for over a year, and on the Amazon Bestsellers’ list for 98 weeks and counting. It also has a record-breaking half a billion pages read on Kindle –– behind only the ‘Harry Potter’ series. It has sold more than 3.6 million copies and has been translated into 40 languages.

‘The Housemaid’: The Studio Comments

'Jackpot!' director Paul Feig.

Here’s what Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson told Deadline about the news:

“I’m thrilled to have The Housemaid join our upcoming slate. A great filmmaker and a great cast with a great script from a great book is a terrific place to start. My prior work experiences with Paul and Amanda have been nothing short of spectacular, and Sydney is as talented and compelling as can be.”

And here’s the statement from Lionsgate Motion Picture Group co-president Erin Westerman:

“The Housemaid is a certified phenomenon with over a year on the New York Times Bestsellers’ list, millions of copies sold, and a place on numerous critics’ choice lists. 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. We’re thrilled to team them with Paul Feig, who we worked with on ‘A Simple Favor’ and its upcoming sequel and has a proven track record of developing stories with dynamic female leads.”

As mentioned, Feig directed ‘A Simple Favor’ and most recently worked on ‘Jackpot!’ for Amazon. He has ‘A Simple Favor 2’ (or whatever it ends up being titled) heading our way next year.

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When will ‘The Housemaid’ be in theaters?

Given the schedules of those involved, we doubt this one will shoot much before mid-2025, so it may end up arriving in 2026 –– but no date has been set yet.

Paul Feig attends the World Premiere Of Netflix's 'The School For Good And Evil' at Regency Village Theatre on October 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix.