Lionsgate is embarking on a thrilling new venture, developing a live stage adaptation of the psychological thriller, "The Housemaid." Bekah Brunstetter, the mastermind behind the Broadway musical adaptation of "The Notebook," will craft the stage treatment. Simon Friend and Hanna Osmolska, the creative forces behind "Life of Pi" and "Paranormal Activity," will produce this gripping production.
The play will be a fusion of both the 2025 film and the 2022 novel by Freida McFadden. It follows the story of Millie Calloway (portrayed in the film by Sydney Sweeney), a young woman who becomes a live-in maid for a wealthy family (Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar), harboring a dark secret. Paul Feig directed the film, which was produced by Hidden Pictures and Pretty Dangerous Pictures, with a screenplay by Rebecca Sonnenshin.
A production timeline for the stage adaptation has yet to be announced. However, this is just the latest expansion of the "The Housemaid" franchise, following Lionsgate's announcement of a sequel, "The Housemaid's Secret," based on the next book in the trilogy. The film is expected to premiere on December 17, 2027.
"The Housemaid has all the ingredients for a successful stage adaptation – a blockbuster title, compelling characters, and a story full of twists and turns that builds tension and momentum in a way that naturally lends itself to the stage," said Jenefer Brown, President of Global Products & Experiences at Lionsgate. "This project showcases how our hit films and intellectual properties can be transformed into novel experiences. We're thrilled to collaborate with Simon, Hanna, and Bekah to bring The Housemaid to theatergoers in a new and intimate way."
"When I first read The Housemaid, it was exhilarating," said Friend. "The story is truly theatrical, not only happening largely in a single, claustrophobic location but also with its twisty elements that contemporize what has long worked in potboiler stage thrillers. Bringing this story to live theater, after the immensely successful film, offers the chance to heighten its intensity in a shared way, and we're thrilled to join forces with Lionsgate and Bekah."
Lionsgate has also premiered "The Hunger Games: On Stage" in London in a purpose-built theater in Canary Wharf and is in development of a musical adaptation of "La La Land," with producer Marc Platt, planned for Broadway. Additionally, Lionsgate will kick off a North American tour of "Dirty Dancing" this August.
