Sydney Sweeney’s erotic R-rated thriller is about to face a big test without her. While some of Sydney Sweeney’s movies have struggled to find an audience (Madame Web, Ron Howard’s Eden), she’s also scored major hits too. She all but revived the long-dormant romantic comedy genre with 2023’s Anyone but You, and gave erotic movie thrillers a much-needed boost thanks to The Housemaid.
This adaptation of Freida McFadden’s 2022 novel casts Sweeney in the title role as an ex-con who discovers a sinister side to the rich family she’s been hired by. While it lacks the more outrageous energy of something like Basic Instinct, The Housemaid is still an R-rated delight. It also gave an impressive showcase to dual leads Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, and The Housemaid grossed$400 million worldwide
Considering it cost $35 million to produce, that, of course, means a sequel is already in production with Sweeney returning. It looks like The Housemaid is on the verge of becoming a full-fledged franchise item, with Deadline revealing stage adaptation is also in the works.
The Housemaid’s Stage Adaptation Will Test Whether The Franchise Can Succeed Without Sydney Sweeney
The Housemaid stage play is set to arrive in September 2027, with playwright and screenwriter Bekah Brunstetter (This Is Us) handling the adaptation. The play will open at Richmond Theatre in London, but while no actors have been confirmed yet, it should go without saying that neither Sydney Sweeney nor Amanda Seyfried will be reprising their roles.
Given the popularity of both the book series and the 2025 film, The Housemaidstage adaptation is certain to become a major draw. Now, the movie adaptation was very much sold on Sydney Sweeney’s star power, which proved a safe bet considering its final box office tally. That said, it was also based on a bestselling book, and the premise held appeal to both female and male audiences.
In short, The Housemaid stage adaptation could prove that it was the property itself – and not its cast – that was the main draw. The play is set to debut a few months ahead of the release of the film sequel The Housemaid’s Secret in December 2027, so it will be interesting to see how the stage version fares compared to its big screen counterpart.
If The Show Succeeds Without Sydney Sweeney It Will Prove The Housemaid Is Bigger Than Its Stars
If The Housemaid stage adaptation is a runaway success, it will show that the franchise itself can succeed without Sweeney. Even so, if the second entry is a hit (and it likely will be), the odds are good Sweeney will return for the trilogy capper, The Housemaid Is Watching, before moving on from the role.
It’s to Sweeney’s benefit to stick with the series for now. It’s an R-rated franchise that gives her a great role to play, and it’s a character which allows her to do both subtle work and get very hammy too. There is also safety in trying out other kinds of projects whilst having a reliable series to slip back into every few years.
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Right now, Sweeney is the actor most associated with the Millie part, but that could change if the play is a smash hit and expands worldwide. That works both ways, however, as some audiences may not give the play a chance since Sweeney won’t be reprising the title role. Ultimately, the existence of the play is only going to strengthen the franchise and prove it can succeed in multiple forms – even without its original lead.
Outside of the upcoming The Housemaid’s Secret, Sydney Sweeney has plenty of projects to keep her busy. This includes a live-action take on the beloved anime Gundam for Netflix, alongside a modern retelling of the Sleepy Hollow legend with director Lindsey Anderson Beer’s Hollow; Sweeney will also front the Kim Novak biopic Scandalous!
R
ThrillerMystery
Release Date
December 19, 2025
Runtime
131 Minutes
Director
Paul Feig
Writers
Rebecca Sonnenshine, Freida McFadden
Producers
Todd Lieberman, Paul Feig
Sydney Sweeney
Millie Calloway
Amanda Seyfried
Nina Winchester
The Housemaid follows Millie, who takes a job as a housemaid for a wealthy couple, Nina and Andrew. While initially offering a fresh start, her position reveals the family’s perilous secrets that far surpass her own challenges.
