First Look at ‘The Strangers: Chapter 1’ and Trilogy News From Director Renny Harlin

When word got out that Lionsgate would be remaking the 2008 cult classic ‘The Strangers’ I was pretty torn. First, I don’t see any need for a remake, but I also cannot deny that keeping ‘The Strangers’ alive with new material is something I am here for.

We now have new stills (Entertainment Weekly) for the first chapter in what will be a trilogy from Lionsgate. ‘The Strangers: Chapter 1’ will be based on the original 2008 film with a slightly new spin, but for the most part, hitting the same beats as the original. The first chapter stars Madelaine Petsch, Froy Gutierrez, Rachel Shenton, Ema Horvath and Gabe Basso and was directed by Renny Harlin. 

‘The Strangers: Chapter 2’ and ‘The Strangers: Chapter 3’ is where we will get some new original material.

Director Renny Harlin tells Entertainment Weekly; “When this opportunity came to me, the idea of not doing a remake or a reboot but doing a trilogy based on the original film, I thought it was an incredible opportunity.” He goes on to say this about Chapters 2 and 3: “explore what happens to the victims of this kind of violence and who the perpetrators are of this kind of violence. Where are they coming from and why?”

Answering the classic line from the original film, “why are you doing this to us?” … “because you were home.”

No official release date has been announced but we know ‘The Strangers: Chapter 1’ will hit theaters sometime in 2024. We expect some additional details to be announced at New York Comic-Con during the panel on October 12th.

SYNOPSIS: 
From master director Renny Harlin (Cliffhanger, Die Hard 2, The Exorcist: The Beginning) comes a new trilogy of terror. In Chapter I, Madelaine Petsch (TV’s “Riverdale”) stars as a young woman starting a new life with her fiancé. Suddenly, during a road trip stop in a remote vacation rental in the woods, they become the prey of a mysterious gang of masked strangers who attack without warning or reason. What begins as a fight to stay alive becomes one woman’s journey of courage and cunning in this horror series bridging three compelling films.