Sydney Sweeney Shoots Housemaid 2 at a NJ Campus ... Three Films Deep and Still Building

Paul Feig's production crew rolled into Wayne, New Jersey this week and took over parts of William Paterson University for The Housemaid's Secret ... the sequel to a film that grossed $400.5 million globally and never left the Starz Top 10 across six months of streaming.

The WPU student newspaper documented the shoot on October 6, capturing crew trailers, equipment, and set dressing across campus. Sydney Sweeney returns as Millie Calloway, now working for an employer with a locked door and another layer of secrets. Michele Morrone reprises his role as Enzo. Kirsten Dunst joins as the new employer. Brittany Snow and Paul Anthony Kelly complete the cast.

Feig is directing again from a screenplay by Rebecca Sonnenshine. Sweeney holds a producer credit on the sequel, meaning she participates in the upside rather than just the salary. Lionsgate has scheduled the film for December 17, 2027.

The Other Film in Post

While the sequel shoots in New Jersey, Sweeney has a second major production in post. The Custom of the Country is a Studiocanal adaptation of Edith Wharton's 1913 novel, directed by Josie Rourke, who wrote the screenplay with Sweeney in mind for the lead. Sweeney plays Undine Spragg, a fiercely ambitious woman from the Midwest navigating turn-of-the-century New York society.

The ensemble is substantial. Leo Woodall, Dominic West, Matthew Goode, Rose Leslie, Miranda Richardson, and Hugh Dancy are among the cast, alongside Louis Garrel, Martha Plimpton, Ian Hart, and James McArdle. Principal photography wrapped in Portugal in early 2026. Studiocanal distributes theatrically across the UK, France, Germany, Australia, and several other territories. Release expected in 2027.

The project has a history that is worth noting. Sofia Coppola had previously developed a version for Apple TV with Florence Pugh attached, which did not move forward. When it reemerged with Josie Rourke directing, the lead role went to Sweeney. That is not a coincidence. It is a casting decision the industry made with full awareness of her current profile.

The Studio Behind the Studio

In June 2026, Sweeney launched Honey Trap, a production company with a first-look deal at Sony Pictures. The company's stated mission: "At Honey Trap, we believe the most unforgettable stories live in contradiction." Kaylee McGregor serves as president of production and development.

The first announced project out of the Sony deal is a remake of Barbarella, the 1968 Jane Fonda sci-fi film, with Edgar Wright directing. Sweeney also holds the producer credit on The Housemaid's Secret, so Honey Trap is already active, not just announced.

Sweeney's representatives did not respond to a request for comment from Ad Watch News.

Our read: much of the conversation about Sydney Sweeney in 2026 has centered on whether the Novig ad damaged her image. The production schedule answers a slightly different question. Two films in simultaneous stages of production, a Sony pipeline with Edgar Wright, and a December 2027 release on the calendar are not the output of an actress with a brand problem. The call sheet for Housemaid 2 did not wait for the discourse to resolve.

Ad Watch News is an independent commentary site. No affiliation with Sydney Sweeney, Paul Feig, Lionsgate, Studiocanal, Sony Pictures, or any individual, brand, or production named here.

Sydney Sweeney Shoots Housemaid 2 at a NJ Campus ... Three Films Deep and Still Building

The Other Film in Post

The Studio Behind the Studio

Sources & further reading

Florence Pugh Walks the BFI Carpet With Finn Cole: 'Solid and Safe'

'The Housemaid' Hits HBO Max: Starz's Best Film Ever Goes Wider

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