Sydney Sweeney and Kirsten Dunst Spotted on Set of 'The Housemaid's Secret'

Production on The Housemaid's Secret is clearly well underway, with fresh on-set images offering the clearest glimpse yet at the highly anticipated thriller sequel taking shape in New Jersey. The pairing of Sydney Sweeney and Kirsten Dunst — two performers with distinctly different but equally compelling screen presences — signals that this follow-up to last year's breakout hit has ambitions well beyond a routine franchise extension.

Two Actresses, One Car, Between Takes

According to Just Jared, Sweeney and Dunst were photographed together on set on Sunday, October 26, in Jersey City, New Jersey, apparently shooting a scene inside a car. What stood out in the images was a candid moment of laughter shared between the two actresses during a break in filming — a small but telling detail that suggests genuine on-set chemistry. For a psychological thriller built around tension and concealment, that kind of performer rapport can be the invisible architecture that makes the suspense feel earned rather than manufactured.

Dunst, an Oscar nominee whose range stretches from Bring It On to Lars von Trier's Melancholia, is among the new faces joining the sequel's ensemble, alongside Pitch Perfect alum Brittany Snow and Paul Anthony Kelly. Her presence elevates the project considerably, lending it a pedigree that few sequels to streaming thrillers can claim.

Sweeney Back on Set Monday with a Seasonal Backdrop

Sweeney returned to the New Jersey location the following day, Monday, October 27, this time seen descending an outdoor staircase in a low-cut floral dress. Halloween decorations adorned the stairs around her — though whether those decorations were period dressing intended to establish an autumnal atmosphere within the film's narrative, or simply ambient décor from the real-world location, remained ambiguous. It's a small detail, but it hints at the possibility that The Housemaid's Secret may lean into a late-fall visual palette, which would suit the gothic undertones of Freida McFadden's source material.

McFadden's trilogy of novels has provided fertile ground for adaptation, and the first film proved the property had genuine mainstream appeal. Director Paul Feig — whose tonal versatility has been demonstrated across everything from Bridesmaids to A Simple Favor — is returning to helm the sequel, a reassuring continuity of creative vision.

The Story Millie Returns To

Lionsgate's official synopsis places returning protagonist Millie — played by Sweeney — at the center of a new domestic mystery. She takes a housekeeping position for a woman she is never permitted to see, only to find that what lies behind a locked door carries secrets considerably darker than anything in her own past. It's a premise that builds smartly on the claustrophobic dread of the original, pushing Millie deeper into moral and psychological jeopardy rather than simply rehashing the first film's architecture.

Michele Morrone is also expected to reprise his role, with new set photos this October capturing Sweeney alongside him as well, suggesting their dynamic will again be central to the story's emotional tension.

Personal Life Intersects with Production

Off-camera, Sweeney's personal life has remained a quiet presence around the production. Earlier in October, her boyfriend Scooter Braun visited the set — a moment that offered a brief public window into their relationship. Scooter Braun celebrated Sweeney's 29th birthday with a heartfelt message earlier this year, and the couple has maintained a relatively understated public profile since going public. For those following Sydney Sweeney and Scooter Braun's romance: a complete timeline, the on-set visit was a characteristically low-key but visible gesture.

A Career Moment Worth Watching

For Sweeney, The Housemaid's Secret represents another chapter in what has become one of Hollywood's more watchable career trajectories. Between her acclaimed dramatic television work and a growing film slate — including her horror turn in Immaculate, which is heading to Netflix US on August 13 — she is steadily building a body of work that rewards close attention. Sharing the frame with Dunst in a Feig-directed thriller only deepens that narrative. The Housemaid's Secret is shaping up to be one of the more compelling genre films on the near horizon.