Following a Tour of 50 Countries Across the World

By Ahmed Fawzy

“The Housemaid” Embarks on a New Journey to Egypt After Its Adaptation Into a Film
Paul Feig: Selecting Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried was essential to the success of “The Housemaid”

After achieving huge success in over 50 countries worldwide, and reaching about $350 million in the world box office, Paul Feig’s “The Housemaid” embarks on a new journey today, Wednesday, in Egyptian cinemas. The film is based on a novel of the same name -published in 2022- by author Freida McFadden. It achieved huge success, becoming one of Amazon’s best-selling novels, as well as a long-time bestseller. Recently, it has been a Sunday Times bestseller for the first time.
Concerning his decision to adapt the novel into a film, Feig mentioned that it was essential to preserve the essence of the original novel, as well as making the film suitable for the big screen. He also pointed out that the team paid particular attention to the way of adapting the plot and characters; preserving the spirit of the original without becoming a carbon copy. Moreover, he kept the essence of the novel but added his own visual and directing touches to increase the tension and drama in events. He also tackled the challenge of blending elements of psychological tension and dark comedy in a film that aims at making audiences feel they’re supporting something they shouldn’t, then forcing them to reevaluate this in the second part.
Feig, known for his comedies such as “Bridemaids”, decided to focus on psychological thriller in the film, resulting in sparking interest among critics and audiences because of the innovative artistic style. The film received positive critical feedback, mentioning that the film is a delightful revival of contemporary thrillers with special performance. The film was described as “exciting and entertaining” with a touch of suspense and irony. Furthermore, the performances of Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney were praised. The film attracts audiences even if they haven’t read the novel, striking a balance between suspense and dark comedy. Besides, the film aligns with the psychological thriller genre and balances tensions and comedy in a catchy way. It is suitable for those who enjoy this type of satirical drama.
As for selecting Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, and the rest of the cast, he stated that it was essential to the success of the film. He mentioned that these artists succeeded in presenting their roles with seriousness and depth, even in the most dramatic moments.
Concerning the differences between the endings in the novel and the film, he declared that some changes were intentional, in order to make the film more dramatic and exciting on screen, particularly in the final confrontations between the main characters. This gives the film a faster pace and greater audience engagement. Feig highlighted a funny aspect of his personality, saying that he likes to include simple touches that make the film “speak” in a unique style, even something as simple as his love for portraying the martini cocktail in his special style.
On her part, the novel’s author, Freida McFadden, expressed her immense admiration for the film, pointing out that it exceeded her expectations. When she watched a past version, she loved the film and said “I think it’s better than the novel”. Additionally, she felt that the ending was more exciting and dramatic on the big screen than in the original text. She also mentioned that the film captured everything readers loved about the novel and praised the adaptation from book to screen, noting that the changes made to specific details serve the cinematic experience in a perfect way. Moreover, she expressed her delight at the critical and public acclaim for the successful film. She also said that she’s proud of its adaptation into a film.
“The Housemaid” stars Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Nina Winchester, Brandon Sklenar, Peter Colandro, and Michele Morrone. It is directed by Paul Feig, written by Rebecca Sonnenshine, and produced by Lionsgate, Media Capital Technologies, Hidden Pictures, and Pretty Dangerous Pictures. It is distributed by United Motion Pictures.