Lionsgate just announced The Housemaid's Secret, a sequel to The Housemaid starring Sydney Sweeney - and here's the catch: the first film hasn't hit theaters yet. Kirsten Dunst has joined the cast alongside Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, which is an impressive lineup for a franchise that doesn't technically exist yet.
So is this confidence or desperation?
The optimistic case: Lionsgate screened The Housemaid internally, knows they have a hit, and is striking while the iron is hot. Sweeney is at peak stardom post-Euphoria and Anyone But You. Locking her in for a sequel now, before she gets even more expensive or booked, is smart business. Adding Dunst - a proven talent who elevates everything she's in - signals they're building a real franchise, not a one-off thriller.
The pessimistic case: Lionsgate is so desperate for franchises that they're announcing sequels based on hope rather than results. The studio has struggled since The Hunger Games ended. John Wick worked, but that franchise concluded. They need IP, they need universes, they need something that can generate sequels and spin-offs. So they're betting big on The Housemaid before knowing if audiences actually want it.
Both can be true. The film industry is increasingly risk-averse, which paradoxically leads to riskier bets like this. Studios would rather lock in sequels early and potentially waste development money than wait and risk losing talent or momentum.
The Housemaid is based on Freida McFadden's bestselling novel, which has a built-in audience. The premise - a young woman takes a job as a housemaid and discovers the family's dark secrets - is classic thriller territory. Add 's star power and 's credibility, and you have the ingredients for success.
