With just under a month remaining until its debut, Lionsgate’s “The Strangers: Chapter 1” is set to kick off a thrilling new reboot trilogy under the helm of director Renny Harlin (“A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Master,” “Deep Blue Sea”). Mark your calendars for May 17, 2024, when the terror unfolds on the big screen.

This week brings news of the film’s official “R” rating, attributed to its intense blend of “horror violence, language, and brief drug use.” A stark contrast to Bryan Bertino’s original “The Strangers,” which earned its “R” rating for “violence/terror,” and its sequel “Prey at Night,” rated for “horror violence and terror throughout.”

Leading the cast are Madelaine Petsch (“Riverdale”), Froy Gutierrez (“Hocus Pocus 2”), Rachel Shenton (“The Silent Child”), Ema Horvath (“Rings of Power”), and Gabe Basso (“Hillbilly Elegy”).

Drawing inspiration from the cult horror franchise’s 2008 origins, Petsch takes center stage as she embarks on a cross-country journey with her boyfriend (Gutierrez), aiming for a fresh start in the Pacific Northwest. However, a breakdown in the remote town of Venus, Oregon, strands them in a secluded Airbnb for the night, where they find themselves hunted relentlessly by three masked strangers.

The official synopsis teases, “After their car breaks down in an eerie small town, a young couple are forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. Panic ensues as they are terrorized by three masked strangers who strike with no mercy and seemingly no motive.”

Behind the camera, Renny Harlin directs from a script penned by Alan R. Cohen and Alan Freedland (“The Freak Brothers,” “Due Date”), with Lionsgate handling global distribution.

The franchise’s chilling legacy began in 2008 with Bryan Bertino’s original home invasion horror, followed by the equally spine-tingling “The Strangers: Prey at Night” in 2018. While the first installment unfolded in a remote woodland house, its sequel ventured into the unsettling confines of a trailer park, showcasing the relentless trio of the Man in the Mask, Dollface, and Pinup Girl.