SYDNEY SWEENEY'S BOX-OFFICE HIT THE HOUSEMAID SET FOR SEQUEL. (PHOTO).

 Sydney Sweeney's box-office hit The Housemaid set for sequel

 Just two and a half weeks after hitting theaters, Sydney Sweeney’s box-office success “The Housemaid” is officially getting a sequel. Lionsgate announced Tuesday that it plans to move forward with “The Housemaid’s Secret,” with production expected to begin later this year. The follow-up will be based on the second novel in Freida McFadden’s bestselling trilogy, continuing the psychological thriller story that has quickly found a wide audience.

“The Housemaid” has performed strongly during the holiday movie season, earning more than $75 million domestically and roughly $133 million worldwide in just 17 days. Directed by Paul Feig, the film was produced on a relatively modest $35 million budget, making it a significant financial win for the studio. Lionsgate said the sequel is being developed with the intention of bringing back Feig and Sweeney, who are also expected to return as executive producer. Screenwriter Rebecca Sonnenshine, who adapted the first film, is writing the sequel script. Studio executives cited strong audience reactions and social media buzz as key reasons for fast-tracking the next installment.

The success marks a major rebound for Sweeney at the box office following the underperformance of her boxing drama “Christy,” which struggled to attract audiences earlier in the fall. In “The Housemaid,” Sweeney stars as a young woman hired as a live-in maid for a wealthy couple portrayed by Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar, only to become entangled in a disturbing and unpredictable household dynamic. With a sequel already in motion, the franchise appears poised to become one of Lionsgate’s most promising new thriller series.