Madelaine Petsch Reveals The Creative Change She Fought For In The Strangers Trilogy

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Madelaine Petsch’s role in The Strangers trilogy goes beyond her onscreen presence.

Before the release of The Strangers — Chapter 3, actress Madison Petsch shared a key change she convinced filmmakers to make to The Strangers series, and how it impacted her character. Petsch plays Maya in all three films, and is the only character who has managed to survive the Strangers’ home invasions. She will again star in The Strangers — Chapter 3.

I was really fascinated to learn, from a recent interview with ScreenRant’s Ash Crossan, just how much Madelaine Petsch contributed behind the scenes to The Strangers trilogy. Apparently, she didn’t just act – she actually collaborated with producer Courtney Solomon to rewrite portions of the scripts, specifically to develop her character, Maya, more fully. It was this involvement, this dedication to shaping Maya, that ultimately led to her becoming a producer on the films herself!

Ash Crossan asks: Congratulations on the third film! This franchise is clearly a passion project for you – you’ve starred in all three movies and recently became an executive producer. What’s one creative idea you really championed for the series, and what did you discover about yourself while taking on that leadership role?

That’s a really good question. I think the main reason I got involved was the script. When I first read it, I saw potential, but I felt the character could be explored much more fully. That’s actually why I ended up becoming a producer – I wanted to work with Courtney to rewrite it. We spent weeks doing just that, honestly rewriting scenes almost every night.

I was the only one really impacted by this, which is good. I don’t like giving actors last-minute lines, so I take responsibility for it. It was probably the biggest creative adjustment we had to make during filming.

While editing, I spent a lot of time with Courtney and realized how important it was to distance myself from how I appeared on screen. It was tough at first to avoid being overly critical of my own work, but once I moved past that, I could really focus on learning the craft of editing – how to improve the film and highlight the most impactful scenes. Editing is a unique skill set, almost a language of its own, and mastering that was a major step forward for me.

She felt Maya initially lacked a unique personality, blending in with other horror movie survivors. However, drawing on her love of the genre – particularly The Strangers trilogy – she developed Maya’s character, giving her more depth and making her choices feel more believable.

Ash Crossan asked: What was the biggest difference between your original concept for the film and the final product?

Okay, let me tell you what really grabbed me about Madelaine Petsch’s performance. It wasn’t just about the horror elements, it was Maya herself. So often, horror movies fall into the trap of thin characters – they assume audiences only care about the scares and the chase. But that’s just not true! What horror fans really crave are characters we can connect with, characters we can go on this terrifying ride with. That’s what this film delivers, and Petsch embodies that perfectly.

As a horror enthusiast, I have a pretty good understanding of what viewers expect. The key was to make the character Maya feel more relatable and ensure her decisions felt authentic. I aimed for her to make the most realistic choices – the kind someone unfamiliar with horror tropes would actually make. Adding that layer of depth was the most significant improvement.

Okay, so I just got a sneak peek at what’s coming in The Strangers — Chapter 3, and it looks like Maya’s story is really coming to a head. After taking down Pin-Up Girl, she’s still battling for her life, and honestly, it’s intense. Thankfully, we’ll see Gregory (Gabriel Basso) and Sheriff Rotter (Richard Brake) back in action, which is a relief! This movie promises to finally reveal what fate has in store for Maya and her connection to the Strangers – it’s shaping up to be a pretty definitive conclusion.

The second Strangers film ends with a suggestion that Maya might become one of the masked attackers in the next movie, possibly taking on the role of Pin-Up Girl. This connects to comments made by Madison Petsch about wanting her character to be a memorable horror lead. Currently, Maya stands out because she’s survived the group’s attacks and even managed to kill one of them.

The latest trailer for The Strangers — Chapter 3 suggests her character might switch sides, making her a more complex protagonist. Previously, she’s been driven by a growing hatred for the strangers, especially after the death of the original Pin-Up Girl, which only intensified her desire for revenge. However, the movie’s ending could take her character in a different direction.

Maya likely became a more compelling character thanks to Petch’s contributions to the script. Working with the writers and producers may have also improved the overall Strangers trilogy. While the sequels haven’t reached the same level of popularity as the first film, they are memorable for their interesting characters and strong lead.

The Strangers — Chapter 3 arrives in theaters on February 6, 2026.

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2026-01-30 16:39