The Strangers: Chapter 1 is almost upon us and we are counting down the days to the launch of this first part of a new beginning for the franchise. Bryan Bertino’s 2008 modern home invasion classic has since spawned a sequel and now this upcoming trilogy of movies helmed by Renny Harlin (Deep Blue Sea, Exorcist: The Beginning).
We’ve seen a trailer and a sneak peek at a clip, but we haven’t even scratched the surface of this three-movie event coming in the months ahead. Lionsgate is turning this into a full on horror event, and we have to admit, we’re intrigued. Before making their way back to the big screen next week, The Strangers recently popped up at the Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival. Not menacing at all!
Today, we bring you an exclusive official character poster reveal for one-third of The Strangers trio — Scarecrow. Let’s take a look.
We would not want to find Scarecrow peering at us through our living room window. Or his friends for that matter!
The Strangers: Chapter 1 Synopsis
This first installment of the new trilogy acts as a prequel to Bertino’s original Strangers tale.
“Chapter 1. Madelaine Petsch (TV’s “Riverdale”) stars as a young woman on a road trip with her fiancé. But when they stop at a remote vacation rental in the woods, they become the prey of a vicious gang of masked strangers who attack without warning or reason and must use courage and cunning to survive one long, terrifying night. ”
Alan R. Cohen and Alan Freedland penned the screenplay for the new film based on Bertino’s story. Madelaine Petsch, Froy Guitierrez, Gabriel Basso and Ema Horvath star in the film, with Courtney Solomon, Mark Canton, Christopher Milburn, Gary Raskin, Alastair Burlingham and Charlie Dombek on board as producers.
In an interview with Fango last year, Solomon explained how this new trilogy came to be.
“I had the idea to tell a much bigger story, but in order to do that, we had to go back and reboot the original, so we could start in the same place. That felt like a truer way to bring it to a new audience. That’s what I told Renny when I first talked to him, that we should be true to the existing audience and not upset them, but actually give them more and answer the questions that have existed for years since the original Strangers.”
Bertino’s The Strangers became a hit both with fans and at the box office, spawning 2018’s The Strangers: Prey at Night. The original’s cult classic status led the Chapter 1 filmmakers toward a different approach outside of a straight-up sequel.
The Strangers: Chapter 1 Release Date
The Strangers: Chapter 1 is coming to theaters May 17. Stay tuned for more sneak peeks at the remaining two members of The Strangers crew this week. For more, check out our interview with Bryan Bertino on his original The Strangers.
