The Housemaid: Director And Cast On Adapting The Novel For The Screen

by

Paul Feig’s film adaptation of Freida McFadden’s bestselling novel, The Housemaid, features a talented cast and takes some unexpected turns from the original story. The film centers on Millie, a young woman with a troubled history, who gets a job as a housemaid for a wealthy couple. As she works, she uncovers hidden secrets about them, and everyone involved.

Sydney Sweeney and Academy Award nominee Amanda Seyfried star in “The Housemaid,” alongside Brandon Sklenar, Michele Morrone, Elizabeth Perkins, Indiana Elle, and Mark Grossman. The film, written by Rebecca Sonnenshine (known for “Archive 81”), has been well-received by critics, who praise its clever take on the thriller genre and strong performances. It currently boasts a 78% “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and a 91% audience score.

Before the release of The Housemaid movie, Ash Crossan from ScreenRant spoke with Paul Feig, Amanda Seyfried, Sydney Sweeney, Brandon Sklenar, and Michele Morrone. When discussing how they adapted the novel by McFadden, Feig explained that the book was so good they didn’t want to make significant changes.

Look, as someone who’s seen a lot of adaptations, I get it – what works on the page doesn’t always translate to the screen. The director told me they really wanted to elevate the visual storytelling and pack more of an emotional punch. They realized some things that shine in the novel just didn’t quite work visually, so they actively looked for ways to enhance certain scenes and moments, to really give the audience a more gripping and immersive experience.

What I really enjoyed was keeping the audience guessing – even those who knew the book well. It was fun to get people so invested in what they thought was happening that they temporarily forgot the original plot. Some book readers even told me they almost forgot the story for a while!

Sklenar described a careful approach to the project, not just in filming, but also in how the actors developed their characters. They aimed to please fans of the book The Housemaid and meet expectations, while still offering something new and unexpected. Sklenar specifically wanted to amplify certain elements of his character to create a more intense portrayal.

In McFadden’s novel, Andrew is portrayed as somewhat passive, and Sklenar notes he doesn’t seem physically strong. The actor, who is 6’2″, used this as inspiration, particularly for the more intense scenes. He aimed to emphasize Andrew’s passivity to create a character who was both physically intimidating and genuinely frightening.

The Movie’s Twisty Story Provided The Cast With Major Challenges While Filming

You know, from what I’m hearing, a lot of fans are really connecting with how faithfully this adaptation captures their imaginations – specifically, the house and a certain character feel exactly as they pictured them. I was curious, what part of bringing this to life did the creators enjoy the most?

I always envisioned the film as a Nancy Meyers movie turned upside down, so working on the house was a lot of fun. My production designer, Elizabeth Jones, and I spent ages finding the perfect location – the house almost feels like a character itself. We then transformed it into this pristine, white home and gradually made it creepier and more dilapidated, eventually falling apart completely.

ScreenRant asked the cast about the challenge of portraying characters who have to hide their true intentions. They wanted to know how the actors approached building those facades, what was most difficult about not revealing everything upfront, and what they enjoyed most about that aspect of their roles.

With a script that’s already so detailed, it was still important to stay organized. I sometimes needed a reminder of exactly when my character was supposed to be subtly manipulating Millie – that part was tricky. It really required someone to help me stay on track.

Paul Feig: No, it was fun.

Amanda Seyfried: Because, for me, Nina is so dynamic off the bat.

Sydney Sweeney explained that Millie’s character reveals her intentions to viewers fairly quickly, though not to Nina. The audience discovers things about Millie’s motivations at the same time as the character herself is figuring them out.

Paul Feig: But I like that we discovered the person inside you by the end.

Amanda Seyfried: Yeah, but definitely, our characters were not who they see.

Sydney Sweeney: No, you guys were just [perfect] in the beginning, a complete 180 by the end.

Amanda Seyfried: And shooting that out of a sequence is challenging.

Paul Feig explained that filming in the actual house allowed them to shoot scenes mostly in order. However, the attic scenes were filmed on a sound stage, which meant they had to return later and film those portions. He considers this a challenging but enjoyable part of the filmmaking process.

Amanda Seyfried: That room seems so big. It’s small. [Chuckles]

ScreenRant asked Michele about her character, noting that much of the movie focuses on uncovering who she is, and a lot of her screen time involves quietly observing. They wanted to know how she felt about playing a character who spends so much time subtly moving around the house and how enjoyable that aspect of the role was.

For me, the most enjoyable aspect of this role was exploring a stranger, more unusual side of myself. I really got to ask questions like, ‘Who is this person? What motivates him? Why does he behave this way?’ It was a good challenge, especially since I’m usually very active and like to be busy. This role required me to be still and quiet, and to portray someone who observes others in a peculiar manner. Discovering that odd side of myself was fun, and I enjoy embracing those kinds of quirks.

Paul Feig: So, you’re saying it’s hard to shut up, is what you’re saying. [Chuckles]

Michele Morrone: It was really hard to shut up. Absolutely. [Laughs]

The interviewer asked Brandon about creating a sense of uncertainty for the audience. They noted that even in the first scene, they weren’t sure if they liked the character or not, and that this ambiguity made it hard to know who to trust.

It was a lot of fun playing with the audience’s expectations in this role. Like Amanda mentioned, it’s about carefully building the story arc and subtly hinting at things to come, almost like laying traps. It felt like a game of chess – my character was manipulating everyone, and I, as the actor, was consciously guiding the audience’s perceptions in a way that’s different from most roles. Usually, you just focus on embodying the character, but with this film, we were all very aware of how the audience would interpret things. We intentionally tried to mislead and surprise them, and that awareness really helped us achieve that.

Usually, when I play a character, I focus on bringing them to life. But with this story, because so many people already love the book, there’s extra pressure to get it right and honor what fans expect.

ScreenRant asked about the turning point in the dynamic between the two lead actresses, Amanda and Sydney. They pointed to examples from other films – like the scenes between Anna and Blake in A Simple Favor, Kristen and Rose in Bridesmaids, and Melissa and Rose in Spy – where the chemistry between the actors was really palpable. They wanted to know if there was a specific moment – perhaps during the chemistry read or a particular scene – where the director felt that same exciting connection between Amanda and Sydney.

I don’t want to reveal too much, but there’s a big confrontation about halfway through the movie that was incredibly well-executed. Specifically, the moment Amanda comes down the stairs – her expression and the way the scene unfolds after that – was fantastic. I was thrilled with every take; it was a really fun scene to film.

Amanda Seyfried: It was different every time. There was also some physical [stuff happening].

Paul Feig: Exactly. You [Sydney] just came off of a boxing movie, so you were ready.

Amanda Seyfried: He was like, “Do it, do it!” And I was like, “[In a meek voice] I can’t!” [Laughs]

ScreenRant: I’ll say, Nina has a scream that you can feel in your soul. Was filming that cathartic?

Amanda Seyfried felt the filming schedule was very tight. She’d often read a scene in the script and worry about when they’d get to it, only to find it suddenly appearing on the day’s schedule. Surprisingly, this lack of preparation was freeing. She felt less self-conscious and more able to just perform.

Paul Feig: And it was freezing cold.

You know, filming on location can be brutal, and this particular shoot was no exception – absolutely freezing! But honestly, there’s something about being in the scene, even if it means being bundled up in a car, that just feels right. It’s a good feeling, a real connection to the work.

As a huge fan, I always love hearing about behind-the-scenes stuff! So when ScreenRant asked what project everyone had to keep most under wraps, and if they were any good at it, I was instantly hooked. It’s fascinating to think about all the secrets in Hollywood and whether people could actually pull off keeping them!

Amanda Seyfried: I am doing one right now, and I’m doing a great job.

ScreenRant: Do we know what it is or is it not out there yet?

Amanda Seyfried: No, not at all, nope. Nobody knows. It’s not necessarily a fictional thing.

Paul Feig: Oh, mysterious. We’re going to get it out of you.

Amanda Seyfried: Maybe I’m switching careers.

Paul Feig: Oh my God.

Amanda Seyfried: No, I’m not switching careers. [Chuckles]

Paul Feig jokingly asked if someone was planning a political campaign or making a movie about this person. He then suggested getting them to talk by offering them alcohol.

Amanda Seyfried joked that if anyone mentioned alcohol, she’d definitely notice. She laughed, adding that she’s not known for being subtle, so she’s managing to keep her composure well.

Sydney Sweeney says it’s frustrating because people constantly ask her about the show Euphoria, but she’s unable to share any updates or information.

Paul Feig: That’s true. That’s very true. Fellas, what are you hiding?

I’m working on a project that hasn’t been publicly revealed yet, but it’s not exactly a secret. With previous shows I’ve been in, people always asked what would happen next. My problem was, I’d always spoil it for everyone! I’d tell them how amazing the finale was, what happened, and how much it would affect them. Then they’d get mad at me for ruining the surprise. I just thought the storylines were so good, and I wanted them to be prepared. They’d tell me to stop giving away details, and I’d try to convince them to read the scripts. They’d tell me they didn’t want to know! It’s funny because I actually never watch the episodes myself – I just love telling my friends about them, even though it means they can’t enjoy the surprise.

Paul Feig says the most challenging secrets he’s ever had to keep were related to this film. Adapting a book creates a unique situation because some fans already know the plot. He jokingly advises people not to read the book before seeing the movie – instead, he suggests watching the film first, then buying and reading the book afterward.

Amanda Seyfried: What was our secret name for The Housemaid?

You know, when we were making the movie, we had this funny little code name: ‘Winger.’ It started because we needed to direct all the trucks and equipment around the set, so someone just started putting up signs with that name. Honestly, I have no idea why ‘Winger,’ but it stuck! I just went with it – seemed easier than questioning it at the time. [laughs]

Amanda Seyfried: I didn’t like it. I didn’t like going to work on Winger.

ScreenRant: Paul, do you know what you’re doing next? Is that your secret that you’re hiding?

I’m currently considering three different projects, but I can’t share any details about them right now. That’s all I can say.

Brandon Sklenar joked that Paul had a surprising number of suits and watches, wondering exactly how many he owned. He pointed out that during the seven weeks of filming, Paul wore a different suit every single day.

Paul Feig: I’ve probably got about 80 suits. [Laughs]

Brandon Sklenar: I think I’ve owned one suit.

Amanda Seyfried: Also, they’re all bespoke. I mean, it takes a lot. It’s very artful.

Paul Feig needs custom-made clothes because his body shape is unusual – his shoulders are quite sloped, so off-the-rack clothing doesn’t fit him well.

Be sure to dive into some of our other Housemaid coverage with:

  • Our guide laying out everything from The Housemaid‘s ending
  • Our guide to the eight biggest differences between the film and McFadden’s novel
  • Amanda Seyfried sharing an update on Mamma Mia 3 and hoping to work with Feig and Seyfried on it

Read More

2025-12-20 18:16