Madelaine Petsch stars in ‘The Strangers – Chapter 3’.
Opening in theaters on February sixth is ‘The Strangers – Chapter 3’, which is the third and remaining installment of the brand new trilogy that was filmed unexpectedly and is predicated on 2008’s ‘The Strangers’.
Launch Date: Feb 6, 2026
Run Time: 1 hr 32 min
As soon as once more directed by Renny Harlin (‘Die Onerous 2’ and ‘Cliffhanger’), the sequel options returning franchise stars Madelaine Petsch (‘Riverdale’), Gabriel Basso (‘A Home of Dynamite’), Ema Horvath (‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy’), and Richard Brake (‘Batman Begins’).
Moviefone lately had the pleasure of talking with Madelaine Petsch about her work on ‘The Strangers – Chapter 3’, capturing all three movies without delay, what her character goes via within the new film, if she is pleased with the ending, working with legendary director Renny Harlin, and what she’ll bear in mind most concerning the expertise.
Associated Article: Director Renny Harlin Talks Horror Sequel ‘The Strangers – Chapter 2’
Madelaine Petsch as “Maya,” within the horror movie ‘The Strangers – Chapter 3’, a Lionsgate launch. Picture courtesy of Lionsgate.
Moviefone: To start with, are you able to speak concerning the challenges of capturing three motion pictures on the identical time and now that the ultimate installment is being launched, how do you are feeling about followers lastly seeing the conclusion of the trilogy?
Madelaine Petsch: How a lot time do you must speak about challenges of capturing three motion pictures without delay? It is fairly a factor. I imply, time was a problem, preserving monitor of the place my character is, not solely simply emotionally, however bodily with my wounds, my limp and the way that evolves over time, figuring out we need to finish with out that limp and the way can we get there. So, it was a lot technicality after which additionally making an attempt to take away the technicality from the artistry once I’m in entrance of the digital camera. It was a lot in prep, every part occurred in prep. Now that it is out, I feel the opposite problem was enhancing. I imply, we edited ‘Chapter 1’, we edited ‘Chapter 2’, after which by the point we edited the second, we’re like, “Oh, ‘Chapter 3’ can evolve as this character has developed naturally via enhancing in a very completely different approach.” So, we went and enhanced it with a 15-day reshoot for ‘Chapter 3’. We virtually created a wholly new movie, which was loopy to see and expertise. Additionally, it was loopy to return and grow to be Maya once more two and a half years later. However there’s countless challenges to that, and countless rewards to it as a result of as an artist, to place your self via such an insane bootcamp and are available out, I imagine, victorious is one thing I am pleased with.
MF: Are you able to speak about the place we left Maya on the finish of the second movie and the place we discover her initially of ‘Chapter 3’?
MP: The place we go away Maya is she’s unintentionally or not so unintentionally, killed Pin-Up Lady (Ema Horvath) after seeing that the individuals who saved her on the road are useless of their house and figuring out that the Strangers are close by and shut. She’s meant to be saved by this ambulance and finally shouldn’t be saved and kills Pin-Up Lady. Then, she’s watching within the woods as Scarecrow mourns Pin-Up Lady. I feel that is when the receptors begin clicking for her that these aren’t simply individuals who know one another. They’ve actual intimate relationships and he or she’s simply taken away an essential individual to this man, and he’ll come after her. You choose up in ‘Chapter 3’, actually proper the place you left off. That final scene in ‘Chapter 2’ is strictly the place we begin in ‘Chapter 3’. You do not miss something. She is not preventing to outlive. I feel she’s indignant and extra fed up and needs to struggle again.
(L to R) Madelaine Petsch as Maya and Gabriel Basso as Gregory in ‘The Strangers – Chapter 3’. Picture Credit score: John Armour.
MF: As an actress, are you pleased with the way in which the story ends to your character, and do you assume followers will probably be glad with the conclusion of the collection?
MP: I am very glad with it. I like the ethical grey space that we play with within the remaining moments of this film. I like watching her not know what she’s going to do in that remaining scene. I actually do imagine she walked in and had no concept which route she was going to go in. I feel even after she’s made her resolution, there are moments of what’s she going to do subsequent? I do not assume everyone knows what her route is in life. Though I feel there’s a giant part of horror followers who need totality and need solutions, there’s additionally an equally giant portion that likes it open-ended and likes questions, though there’s a wrapped-up situation on the finish. There may be a number of open-endedness and “what do you assume she does subsequent? Who do you assume she’s grow to be? What’s she left with?” I like dialog round horror movies. That is the non-public type of movie that I like. However there’s a big part of people that needs a completed product. So, I feel it is going to be divisive, however that is my favourite type of filmmaking.
MF: What was it like working with director Renny Harlin on this collection and what did you study from watching the way in which he executed his imaginative and prescient for this trilogy?
MP: It is so humorous as a result of each director has such a particular fashion in the way in which that they function. It’s my job to grow to be a chameleon to that. I’ve this superb video of Renny crawling on the ground the way in which he had imagined me crawling. I had this second the place I used to be like, “Renny Harlin is in entrance of me crawling via leaves proper now. What’s my life?” He’s a behemoth director. He is fantastic and he is so particular about the way in which he needs to shoot issues and the way in which that he needs issues to come back collectively. However he is additionally very collaborative, which I feel is a uncommon mixture to have as a director who’s so achieved. He’ll come and say to me, “Okay, I actually need to open this with an enormous crane shot the place it reveals you this manner. I needed you standing right here. What’s your instinct? The place do you need to be?” I feel that type of humility in someone as huge as him is cool and I acquired fortunate. I’ve so many fantastic issues to say about Renny.
(L to R) Renny Harlin, Madelaine Petsch and Courtney Solomon at San Diego Comedian-Con 2025.
MF: Lastly, what’s going to you bear in mind most concerning the capturing this trilogy?
MP: That I am actually a loopy individual for signing onto three motion pictures to shoot all at one time. Who’s that lady, truthfully? The issues that I do are simply insane, however I am pleased with it. I acquired to study so much about being a producer and the way to edit and the way that course of works. I acquired an excellent relationship with Lionsgate, who I think about household now and (Producer) Courtney (Solomon) and Renny. So, I’ve nothing however good issues to say about this course of. I really feel very fortunate.
A scene from ‘The Strangers – Chapter 3’. Picture Credit score: Jordy Clarke/Lionsgate.
What’s the plot of ‘The Strangers – Chapter 3’?
Tethered by a daunting conclusion, Maya (Madelaine Petsch) and the Strangers are locked on an unavoidable, unforgiving collision course — a showdown that proves they’re removed from strangers now.
Who’s within the forged of ‘The Strangers – Chapter 3’?
- Madelaine Petsch as Maya
- Gabriel Basso as Gregory
- Ema Horvath as Shelly
- Richard Brake as Sheriff Rotter
‘The Strangers – Chapter 3’ opens in theaters on February sixth.
Checklist of Motion pictures in ‘The Strangers’ Franchise:
Purchase Tickets: ‘The Strangers: Chapter 3’ Film Showtimes
Purchase Renny Harlin Motion pictures on Amazon