Anti-male tale ‘The Housemaid’ heads to stage after best-selling book, sleeper success film

Per Variety, the Freida McFadden novel is now being developed by playwright Bekah Brunstetter, best known for Broadway’s version of The Notebook, and British company Melting Pot, led by Simon Friend and Hanna Osmolska, the company behind Broadway plays Life of Pi and Paranormal Activity. The production timeline for the stage play is currently unclear.

The Lionsgate film is also set to receive a sequel, The Housemaid’s Secret, based on the follow-up novel of the same name. Production for the film is set to begin later in 2026, with a theatrical release date currently set for December 17, 2027. The movie became a wild success in theaters, bringing in $400 million worldwide after Lionsgate spent just $35 million on production.

Jenefer Brown, Lionsgate’s president of global products and experiences, said in regards to the play adaptation, "'The Housemaid' has all the elements 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. This project reflects how our hit films and IP can be transformed into novel experiences."

Simon Friend said he wants to "heighten [The Housemaid’s] intensity" with the stage version. "When I first read ‘The Housemaid,’ it was exhilarating," Friend said. "What occurred to me is how truly theatrical the story is, not only happening largely in a single, claustrophobic location, but the twisty elements which contemporize what has long worked in potboiler stage thrillers."

Brunstetter said, "I’m so thrilled to be bringing this gripping, emotional, strange, and even funny story to the stage. Not only have I fallen in love with the adaptation process and bringing books to life on both stage and screen, I’m extremely excited to dig into ‘The Housemaid’s’ incredibly universal themes of jealousy, the pain of desire, and the traumas that connect us."