is reporting that Christina Hendricks (“Mad Men“, “Hap and Leonard“) has been cast in The Strangers 2, the long-awaited sequel to the 2008 original. She is joined by co-stars Bailee Madison (“Once Upon A Time“, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark) and Lewis Pullman (Aftermath). Johannes Roberts (47 Meters Down) directs, from a screenplay by Ben Ketai and franchise originator Bryan Bertino (The Monster).
The Strangers 2 follows a family whose road trip takes a turn when they arrive at a secluded mobile home park and the power goes out. As they hunker down for the night in a borrowed trailer, three familiar masked psychopaths pay them a visit to test their every limit.
This project has been kicking around for just under a decade now, but has constantly been plagued with development problems, as well as financial difficulties brought on by Relativity Media’s numerous bankruptcies. The failing production company has teamed with The Fyzz Facility to finally make The Strangers 2 happen.
While I would prefer Bertino himself to be back behind the camera on this, Roberts is a good replacement choice. The aforementioned 47 Meters Down, which finally sees U.S. release this summer, is an effective underwater thriller. His last film, The Other Side of the Door, was also a solid supernatural chiller. With a great lead and potentially-good material at his disposal here, I have little doubt that he can deliver the goods. Hopefully he can manage to get Liv Tyler back as her character from the original as well.
The Strangers 2 will begin production at the end of the month in and around Los Angeles. No release date is currently set, but the film should arrive in theaters sometime next year, if all goes to plan. While I’m still not sure that the original needs a sequel, there’s enough good talent here that I’m willing to roll with it.
