The Housemaid Deleted Scene Explained (What Changes & Sequel Setup)
The Deleted Scene That Changes Everything About Enzo (and Why It Matters for the Sequel)
Spoilers ahead for The Housemaid (2025).
A newly released deleted scene from The Housemaid finally gives Millie and Enzo the moment the theatrical cut only hints at—then quietly uses to tee up a bigger role for him in The Housemaid’s Secret. It’s one of those “small scene, big ripple effect” cuts: it doesn’t rewrite the plot, but it reshapes how you read Enzo, reframes a key promise, and adds a clean runway for the sequel’s emotional arc.
In this post, I’ll break down what happens in the deleted scene, what it changes about the ending you saw in theaters, and the specific sequel setup it creates—especially now that Lionsgate has officially greenlit The Housemaid’s Secret for a 2026 production start.
Quick refresher: where things stand at the end of The Housemaid
Even if you haven’t rewatched recently, here’s the “needle-moving” context: the film confirms Andrew as the real monster, Nina’s instability as a strategy, and Millie as someone who can survive (and even weaponize) a nightmare household. Paul Feig has also talked about making the movie ending more cinematic and intense compared to the book.
In the theatrical cut, Enzo’s function is mostly atmospheric: he’s there, he watches, he feels like a threat… but you don’t get enough dialogue to fully understand his loyalties. That ambiguity is exactly what the deleted scene “fixes.”
Watch: the official trailer (for visual context)
The trailer is worth revisiting because it sells Enzo as part of the mystery. The deleted scene changes the “mystery math” on that.
What happens in the deleted scene (Millie & Enzo finally talk)
The deleted scene takes place after the main events, at a funeral. Enzo approaches Millie and the two have their first real, uninterrupted conversation—something the theatrical version never gives you. Millie confronts him about whether he knew what was happening, and Enzo admits he did… but says he had made a promise to Nina.
The key beat is not romance (though the scene absolutely plays with chemistry). The key beat is alignment: Enzo positions himself as someone who chose a side, stayed loyal to that side, and is still “in the story” even after the Winchester disaster ends.
Then comes the line that functions like a sequel handshake: when Millie asks what he’ll do now, Enzo essentially signals he’ll still be around—an intentionally eerie-but-intriguing button that reads like a promise of future proximity.
Why this scene was cut (and why that matters)
Paul Feig has explained that test screenings can reveal moments where audiences “want to be with” different characters, and this was the one scene they felt they had to lose for pacing—even though he suggested it could return in a sequel context. In other words: it wasn’t cut because it “didn’t work,” but because it slowed the forward pull at the exact point the movie needed to land its ending.
What the deleted scene changes (3 big shifts)
1) Enzo goes from “creepy observer” to “informed ally”
In the theatrical cut, Enzo’s silence makes him feel like a wildcard. The deleted scene reclassifies that silence as intentional restraint: he knew, he held back, and he did it for Nina. That single clarification turns his earlier “watching” into something closer to vigilance than voyeurism.
2) Nina’s plan looks even more layered
If Enzo promised Nina something—and kept it—then Nina’s endgame had more moving parts than the film lets on. It implies she didn’t just manipulate Millie and Andrew; she also managed the people orbiting the house. That makes Nina’s “performance” feel less like a last-minute twist and more like a system.
3) Millie’s next chapter becomes a relationship question, not just a survival question
The first film is a survival story with a romantic/erotic undercurrent. The deleted scene raises the stakes of the undercurrent: Millie isn’t just escaping the Winchester house—she’s leaving behind an unfinished dynamic with someone who understands what she lived through. That is prime sequel fuel.
A “bonus” change: it rebalances the movie’s Enzo problem
A common audience complaint has been that Enzo feels underused in the film. The deleted scene doesn’t give him a whole subplot, but it does give him purpose and intention, which is often what viewers mean when they say a character feels “random.”
Twitter/X posts that show how the movie was marketed (and why this scene fits that vibe)
View this post on X
Even the early marketing leaned into deception as the brand. A post-ending Enzo/Millie button is basically “deception, continued.”
View this post on X
Instagram posts (behind-the-scenes energy that makes the deleted scene feel inevitable)
The cast and official socials leaned hard into “fun + dark + twisted.” The deleted Enzo scene lands in that exact lane: flirtatious, ominous, and story-forward.
How the deleted scene sets up The Housemaid’s Secret (the sequel)
Lionsgate has officially moved forward with The Housemaid’s Secret, with production planned to begin in 2026. Reporting has also made it clear the sequel is based on Freida McFadden’s 2023 follow-up novel.
The official hook of the second book is that Millie takes another job for a wealthy couple (the Garricks), and the warning signs begin almost immediately—most famously: she’s told not to go into the guest bedroom because the wife is “very ill.”
Here’s why the deleted scene matters as a sequel engine:
- It keeps Enzo in Millie’s orbit on purpose. Without the scene, his return in a sequel could feel like a convenience. With it, it feels like a continuation.
- It suggests “promise” and “protection” as ongoing themes. The sequel’s premise (another dangerous household) naturally benefits from a character positioned as an off-the-books ally.
- It gives the franchise a two-person spine. Millie’s story can expand into new houses and new villains while keeping one familiar emotional through-line.
Reddit Reactions: “Did the movie need more Enzo?”
On Reddit, one of the recurring discussion points has been that Enzo’s role in the film feels trimmed down—especially compared to the tension his presence creates. The deleted scene is basically an answer to that: it’s the missing “why he matters” beat.
Official Discussion - The Housemaid [SPOILERS]
The Housemaid Review Thread
What Reddit Theories Say About Enzo’s “promise” to Nina
One fun way to read the deleted scene is that it retrofits Enzo into a “quiet co-conspirator” role—someone who isn’t driving Nina’s plan, but is helping keep it from collapsing. That interpretation lines up with the ending mechanics (and with how the film uses misdirection as a core pleasure).
Another theory-ish reading is that the line about Enzo “always being around” is the franchise choosing its long-term supporting lead now (instead of waiting for the sequel to introduce him with a lot of exposition). That’s not confirmed, but it’s a very common franchise-writing move—and it’s exactly the kind of line you write if you already know you want the character back.
Does the deleted scene change the plot? Not exactly—here’s what it changes instead
| Question | Theatrical cut | With the deleted scene |
|---|---|---|
| What is Enzo’s deal? | Mysterious watcher; unclear motives | He knew the truth and kept a promise to Nina |
| How should we feel about Enzo + Millie? | Mostly unresolved tension | Explicitly “unfinished business” energy |
| Sequel setup | Millie can continue alone | Millie’s story is set up to continue with Enzo involved |
FAQ
Is this the only deleted scene?
No—another widely reported deleted scene involves Andrew and Millie in a more playful/intimate morning moment (including Pop-Tarts), which reads as character texture and tonal contrast rather than sequel architecture.
When was the Millie/Enzo deleted scene released?
PEOPLE published the Millie/Enzo deleted scene as an exclusive on February 3, 2026.
When does The Housemaid’s Secret come out?
There is no official release date yet. Lionsgate has said production is planned to start in 2026, which typically points to a release sometime after that (often 2027, depending on the schedule).
Bottom line
The deleted scene doesn’t exist to “add romance.” It exists to solve a structural problem (Enzo felt like a question mark) and to plant a clean sequel hook (Enzo is still here, still watching, and now we know why). If The Housemaid is about Millie surviving a house, the deleted scene suggests the sequel will be about what survives with her.