Production on Lionsgate's psychological thriller sequel, The Housemaid's Secret, is officially underway across New Jersey and New York this October, bringing franchise star Sydney Sweeney and newcomer Kirsten Dunst together on camera for the first time. The 29-year-old Euphoria actress and the 44-year-old Academy Award nominee were photographed sharing a scene inside a parked vehicle in Jersey City on Sunday, October 26, 2026, marking a major milestone for the follow-up to the 2025 box office smash The Housemaid. Directed once again by Paul Feig from a script by Rebecca Sonnenshine, the sequel adapts the second novel in Freida McFadden's bestselling literary trilogy and is slated for a theatrical release on December 17, 2027.

On-Location Sightings Across New Jersey and Manhattan

Filming for The Housemaid's Secret has drawn considerable local attention as crews move through several metropolitan hubs. While early chatter conflated the primary filming locations, entertainment outlets specify distinct shooting schedules across different cities. According to Just Jared and syndication via Yahoo Entertainment, the joint car scene featuring Sweeney and Dunst took place in Jersey City on October 26. Set photographs captured by Digital Spy show the co-stars laughing between takes before shifting into tense, serious expressions while the cameras rolled. For the sequence, Dunst wore a purple cap, beige jacket, and light blue denim—reportedly sporting makeup depicting a black eye—while Sweeney was dressed in a leather jacket layered over a checkered shirt and blue jeans.

Separate production units have been active in nearby municipalities throughout the month. Earlier in October, Sweeney was spotted filming at William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey, on October 6, before crews set up on Garden Street in Hoboken on October 14 and October 15. According to the New York Daily News, Sweeney took time during the Hoboken shoot to take photographs and sign autographs for roughly 15 local high school students who gathered near the set. During her Hoboken appearances, Sweeney was also photographed filming scenes alongside returning co-star Michele Morrone and newcomer Stephen Kalyn.

Production remained in New Jersey through Monday, October 27, when Sweeney was seen walking down an exterior staircase decorated with Halloween props while wearing a floral dress. By Wednesday, October 28, filming had crossed the Hudson River into Manhattan, where Comic Basics reported Sweeney shooting street scenes in a tan workwear jacket, wide-leg blue jeans, and dark boots.

Cast Additions and Plot Details for the Sequel

In The Housemaid's Secret, Sweeney reprises her central role as Millie Calloway, a young woman with a criminal past trying to build a stable life in New York. Lionsgate's official synopsis indicates that Millie takes a new domestic position keeping house for a wealthy woman she is strictly forbidden from seeing, only to uncover truths behind a locked door that threaten to expose secrets far darker than her own.

While initial casting announcements left certain character assignments under wraps, recent coverage from Digital Spy confirms that Dunst portrays the elusive Mrs. Wendy Garrick, Millie's new employer. Joining Dunst at the center of the household mystery is Love Story actor Paul Anthony Kelly, who plays her husband, Douglas Garrick. The supporting ensemble adds Brittany Snow as Marybeth, an unassuming receptionist at Mr. Garrick's company, and Off Campus actor Stephen Kalyn as Millie's boyfriend, Brock, who remains unaware of her criminal history. Michele Morrone also returns from the first installment to reprise his role as Enzo.

Questions remain regarding the potential return of the original film's co-leads. Brandon Sklenar is not expected to appear following his character's fatal end in the first movie. Meanwhile, Amanda Seyfried—who starred as Nina Winchester in the 2025 original—has not been officially announced for the sequel, though reports note she previously expressed interest in making a brief appearance.

Franchise Momentum and Box Office Context

The rapid turnaround for The Housemaid's Secret follows one of the most lucrative theatrical runs of 2025. Produced on a modest $35 million budget, the original adaptation opened in December 2025 to $19 million domestically before surging to roughly $400 million worldwide. The financial performance established the thriller as Sweeney's highest-grossing starring vehicle to date, surpassing her hit romantic comedy Anyone But You.

Capitalizing on that box office momentum, Lionsgate officially greenlit the sequel just 17 days after the first movie arrived in theaters. Keeping the core creative team intact was a priority for the studio. In a statement regarding the production, director Paul Feig noted that it was thrilling to see global audiences embrace the original film's cast and crew, adding that the production team was fortunate Freida McFadden had already expanded Millie's story on the page for Sonnenshine and Lionsgate to adapt.

What Viewers Can Expect Next

With principal photography actively moving through Manhattan and northern New Jersey this fall, fans of McFadden's books can expect additional glimpses of the Manhattan-set thriller as exterior shooting continues. The visual contrast between Sweeney's working-class wardrobe and the upscale Manhattan surroundings of the Garrick family signals a faithful adaptation of the second novel's cat-and-mouse dynamic.

Where was the car scene with Sydney Sweeney and Kirsten Dunst filmed?

While Sydney Sweeney filmed several sequences in Hoboken earlier in October, the joint scene featuring both Sweeney and Kirsten Dunst inside a car was filmed in Jersey City, New Jersey, on October 26, 2026.

Who is joining the cast of The Housemaid's Secret?

Alongside returning stars Sydney Sweeney (Millie Calloway) and Michele Morrone (Enzo), the sequel adds Kirsten Dunst as Wendy Garrick, Paul Anthony Kelly as Douglas Garrick, Brittany Snow as Marybeth, and Stephen Kalyn as Millie's boyfriend, Brock.

When will The Housemaid's Secret be released in theaters?

Lionsgate has scheduled The Housemaid's Secret for a theatrical release on December 17, 2027.

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