The first official trailer for Tyler Perry’s new R-rated Blumhouse thriller, Strung, is here, and there’s only one word to describe it: terrifying. Written by Alan McElroy and directed by Malcolm D. Lee, Strung stars Chloe Bailey as talented violinist, Laila, who takes a high-paying job as a music tutor for Sari, the gifted daughter of an affluent family. According to the Peacock movie’s official logline, it’s not long before she becomes entangled in their world, as “unsettling secrets begin to surface, forcing her to question her safety, her dreams, and even her sanity.” The film’s first trailer, released on Wednesday, sees Laila eager and excited to take on this new role and welcome all the opportunities that come with it, but there’s an eeriness from the start, with Sari greeting Laila for the first time in a Zulu mask that not only conceals her identity but signals what’s to come. “The Zulu believe that if you die in your dreams, you die in real life. Be careful what you dream,” Sari warns.

Set to the Travis Scott track, “FE!N,” Laila is quickly wrapped up in a terrifying new world of money, power, and the pitfalls that come with living with an enigmatic family, as she’s once again warned by Sari about her mother, who she says can sometimes do “bad things” when she “gets mad.” As Sari’s predictions start coming true, what unfolds is a ​​​​​​literal fight for her life, with Laila’s concern for the little girl she’s tutoring leading her down a path that puts her own life in danger. While Bailey leads the cast, Strung’s star-studded lineup also includes Emmy-winner Lynn Whitfield, Emily in Paris’ Lucien Laviscount, Anna Diop, Abbott Elementary’s Romy Woods, and singer-actress Coco Jones. In addition to Blumhouse bringing the horror thriller to Peacock, Perry is serving as a producer on the project under his Peachtree & Vine banner, along with Lee’s Blackmaled Productions.

In a statement from Lee about the coming project, The Best Man Holiday director opened up about helming a thriller for the first time, calling it a “privilege” to bring McElroy’s script to life.
I love a good suspense thriller and a solid narrative that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats. I hadn’t had the privilege of directing a film in this genre, but when I read Alan McElroy’s script, I knew I had to dip my toe in this water.
The countless times I reacted out loud while reading the script’s twists and turns motivated me to put my own stamp on this evergreen genre and add to the pantheon of psychological thrillers. Strung draws you in with a combination of lush visuals, captivating performances, and a riveting soundtrack that captivates viewers – that is, if your heart and nerves can withstand the suspense.
Strung premieres June 26 on Peacock.

Release Date

May 27, 2026

Director

Malcolm D. Lee

Writers

Alan B. McElroy