With over 20 directorial credits to his name and a resume spanning more than 20 years,Paul Feighas successfully cemented himself as one of the most successful comedy directors of all time. His next outing,Another Simple Favor, is coming to theaters on May 1, and it returns original starsBlake LivelyandAnna Kendrickto their famous roles of Emily Nelson and Stephanie Smothers. Feig has also been tapped to directThe Housemaid, which starsBrandon SklenaroppositeSydney SweeneyandAmanda Seyfried. The film has been set for release on Christmas Day later this year, and during a recent interview with Collider’s ownPerri Nemiroffat SXSW promoting his new horror thrillerDrop, Sklenar praised his fellow co-stars while also teasing how much of a “departure” this is for director Paul Feig:
“We wrapped on that, like, two weeks ago. I’m really excited about it. It was a wild, wild experience.Sydney’s a powerhouse. That girl is so incredibly smart and knows exactly what she’s doing, and is a great producer and she’s on it, and Amanda, as well.Amanda’s been at this for a long time, she’s a veteran, and she’s just such a magnificent actor. I’m just excited for people to see it. She gets to go to places that I haven’t seen her do much, and she absolutely crushed it. […]It’s definitely a huge departure for Paul. It’s dark and it’s sexy and it’s suspenseful, psychological. We did kind of bring some humor to it at times just to add some levity. I haven’t seen it—obviously, we just wrapped it—but I feel like the tone is going to be pretty specific and unique. It’s going to be great.”
Fans are certainly more accustomed to seeing Feig work in the comedy realm than something as mind-bending and thrilling asThe Housemaid. He most recently teamed up withJohn CenaandAwkwafinaforJackpot!, the R-rated slapstick comedy that’s currently streaming on Prime Video, and he also directedThe School for Good and Evilfor Netflix, the supernatural fantasy/comedy that starsCate Blanchett. Feig is also known for his work onGhosbusters(2016) andSpy(2015); the former starsKristen Wiig, and the latter featuresJason Statham.The Housemaidis based on the novel of the same name byFrieda McFadden, andRebecca Sonnershinewas tapped to adapt the book to the big screen. In addition to Sweeney, Sklenar, and Seyfried,The Housemaidalso starsMichele Morrone,Ellen Tamaki,Megan Ferguson,Brian D. Cohen, and more.
What’s Coming Up for ‘The Housemaid’ Stars?
Brandon Sklenar will next be seen oppositeMeghann FahyinDrop, the whodunit fromChristopher Landonthat’s coming to theaters on April 11. He can also be seen in the second season of1923, theYellowstoneprequel series fromTaylor Sheridan. Sweeney is expected to reprise her role as Cassie in the third season ofEuphoria, and she will also star alongsideKaty O’Brianinan upcoming biopic about boxer Christy Martin. She will even playKim NovakoppositeDavid Jonnson’sSammy Davis Jr.inScandalous!, which will be directed byColman Domingo. Seyfried will lead a new drama coming to Peacock on March 13,Long Bright River, which also starsCallum VinsonandNicholas Pinnock.
The Housemaidhits theaters on Christmas Day later this year. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates as well as our full interview with Sklenar forDrop.
