Fez — Lionsgate is developing a stage adaptation of “The Housemaid,” extending the psychological thriller franchise after the Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried-led film became a major box-office success.
The new theatrical version is being developed with British production company Melting Pot, led by Simon Friend and Hanna Osmolska, with playwright Bekah Brunstetter attached to write the adaptation. Brunstetter previously worked on the Broadway musical version of “The Notebook.”
The production timeline has not yet been announced, but the project adds another chapter to a property that has quickly moved across formats.
From bestseller to box office hit
“The Housemaid” began as Freida McFadden’s bestselling novel, first published in 2022. The story follows Millie, a young woman with a troubled past who takes a live-in maid position with a wealthy family, only to discover that the household’s perfect image hides darker secrets.
The film version, directed by Paul Feig, stars Sydney Sweeney as Millie and Amanda Seyfried as Nina. The movie became a sleeper hit after its December 2025 release, grossing close to $400 million worldwide.
That commercial success has made “The Housemaid” one of Lionsgate’s most valuable recent thriller properties, especially because the film was produced on a relatively contained budget.
A thriller built for live tension
The stage version will draw from both the novel and the film, though reports note that the two versions differ slightly in their endings.
The story’s confined setting makes it a natural fit for theater. Much of the tension unfolds inside a wealthy family’s home, giving the plot the kind of claustrophobic structure that can work well on stage.
Friend said the material has theatrical potential because it is built around a contained location, escalating pressure, and twists that echo classic stage thrillers. Brunstetter described the story as emotional, strange, and darkly funny, with themes of jealousy, desire, and trauma.
Lionsgate expands its franchises
The play is part of a broader Lionsgate strategy to turn film and book properties into live experiences. The studio has also been developing stage versions of “La La Land,” “Dirty Dancing,” and “Wonder,” while “The Hunger Games: On Stage” has reached London’s West End.
“The Housemaid” franchise is also continuing on screen. A sequel, “The Housemaid’s Secret,” is expected to begin production later in 2026, with a theatrical release planned for December 17, 2027.
