'Strangers' returning

Sequel set to begin shooting this fall

By DAVE MCNARY

French helmer Laurent Briet will direct a sequel to last year’s low-budget horror hit 'The Strangers,' with Rogue to distribute.

A sequel to "The Strangers" is set to begin shooting this fall.

"Strangers 2" will be produced by Relativity topper Ryan Kavanaugh, Roy Lee and Doug Davison from Vertigo, and Nathan Kahane from Mandate. Exec producers include Tucker Tooley from Relativity, Joe Drake from Mandate, Sonny Mahli from Vertigo and Marc Evans and Trevor Macy from Intrepid.

Producers have tapped French helmer Laurent Briet to direct. Briet's a commercial and musicvideo director who also worked on visual effects for "The Ring."

Bryan Bertino, who wrote and directed the first film, wrote the sequel. Story is being kept under wraps.

"The Strangers," starring Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman and shot for $9 million, grossed $80 million worldwide last year. That film centered on a couple terrorized by masked assailants at their remote summer house.

The sequel will be distributed by Rogue, which is wholly owned by Relativity.

Relativity and Intrepid are co-financing.