The Strangers is to be remade by Lionsgate starring Madelaine Petsch of Riverdale and Finnish filmmaker Renny Harlin, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. Froy Gutierrez and Gabriel Basso (The Big C) also feature in the film (Teen Wolf). Multiple instalments of the planned film franchise will begin production in Bratislava, Slovakia. Scott Speedman played James, Liv Tyler played Kristen, and Kip Weeks played the Man in the Mask in the original 2008 thriller by Bryan Bertino with the same name. A married couple spends the weekend on a vacation property, only to be terrorised by three mysterious figures in masks.
The Mason family Tate killings and a string of home invasions that occurred in Bryan Bertino’s childhood area served as inspiration for the script. Followers have also drawn parallels to the Keddie cabin killings, which gained notoriety for their grisly nature. Petsch will portray a lady who moves to the Pacific Northwest with her longtime partner (Gutierrez) after driving cross-country in the remake. After their car breaks down, the two are stuck in an isolated Airbnb, where they will be terrorised by unknown assailants all night long.
Alan R. Cohen and Alan Freedland are responsible for the script of the new version. “When starting out to adapt The Strangers, we believed there was a broader tale to be told, which could be as dramatic, disturbing, and horrifying as the original and could truly expand that universe,” said producer Courtney Solomon in a statement about the project. Mark Canton, Christopher Milburn, Gary Raskin, Charlie Dombeck, and Alastair Birlingham are joining Solomon as producers on the feature film. While Andrei Boncea, Dorothy Canton, and Roy Lee serve as executive producers. As Canton elaborated on Solomon’s statement, “When you’ve got two horror connoisseurs like Courtney Solomon and Renny Harlin getting together, you’ve got all you need to produce some extremely brilliant, lean-forward-in-your-seat, addictively gripping entertainment.”
Additionally, he stated, “Fans of the first film will be blown away; new viewers will experience the extremely unsettling world of The Strangers.” In addition to her role as Marissa in F the Prom, Petsch is recognised for playing Cheryl Blossom on The CW’s Riverdale. She has also acted in films including “Sightless” (streamed on Netflix) and “Jane,” directed by Sabrina Jalgom. Basso’s filmography includes Super 8, a science fiction film released in 2011, and The Kings of Summer, a comedy-drama released in 2013. As Nolan Holloway on Teen Wolf, and as Jamie Henson on Cruel Summer, Gutierrez has become a fan favourite. There are currently no public details regarding the project.