‘Housemaid’ Author Freida McFadden’s Next Thriller ‘The Divorce’ Lands at Studiocanal

“The Housemaid” author Freida McFadden‘s upcoming thriller “The Divorce” has been optioned by Studiocanal, following a competitive book auction.

Studiocanal and Working Title will co-produce the film adaptation, which is in early development. “The Divorce,” on stands May 26, is described as a “razor-sharp thriller where love curdles into vengeance and survival becomes the most dangerous game of all.”

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The plot centers on Naomi, who was living the “quintessential love story” until her husband abruptly kicks her out, hires the best divorce attorneys, drains their bank accounts and takes up with a 20-something. Instead of accepting defeat and moving on, Naomi becomes fixated on his new girlfriend, uncovering secrets that put her in more danger than she could’ve imagined.

“I’m delighted to be working with the teams at Studiocanal and Working Title to bring ‘The Divorce’ to the big screen,” McFadden said in a statement announcing the deal. “From the start, they have come forward with an unparalleled enthusiasm and a strong vision for how to get this project off the ground. I can’t wait to see what unfolds!”

Studiocanal is fully financing the film, with Ron Halpern and Joe Naftalin overseeing the development and production. The company negotiated the deal with Angela Cheng Caplan of Cheng Caplan Company.

“We are thrilled to be working with Freida McFadden on our adaptation of ‘The Divorce,'” said Anna Marsh, Studiocanal CEO & chief content officer of Canal+ group. “From the very first page, it was utterly compelling. Freida has a rare ability to draw readers – and viewers – into an unsettling sense of comfort, before brilliantly pulling the rug from under them. ‘The Divorce’ is ambitious, aspirational and irresistibly addictive storytelling at its best.”

The acquisition, Marsh noted, marks a new chapter for Studiocanal Stories, the specialized label launched in 2024 to focus exclusively on adapting literature into films and TV series. “I would like to congratulate the Studiocanal team on this landmark deal, which powerfully demonstrates our commitment to nurturing distinctive literary voices for the screen,” Marsh concluded.

Studiocanal will release “The Divorce” theatrically across the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Benelux, Australia and New Zealand, and handle global distribution.

“The Divorce” movie news comes following the blockbuster box office for “The Housemaid,” starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried. The film, directed by Paul Feig, grossed a stellar $400 million worldwide. (It was distributed by Studiocanal in Australia and New Zealand.) Lionsgate dated an adaptation of the next book in McFadden’s series, “The Housemaid‘s Secret,” for a 2027 release, with Feig, Sweeney and Michele Morrone returning and Kirsten Dunst joining the cast.

McFadden, who writes her popular novels under a pseudonym, recently revealed her true identity. Her real name is Sara Cohen, and she works as a doctor treating brain disorders when not writing books. She is represented by Christina Hogrebe of Jane Rotrosen Agency, Angela Cheng Caplan of Cheng Caplan Company, and Allison Binder of Goodman Genow Schenkman Smelkinson + Christopher.