Lionsgate will release Joss Whedon's highly anticipated horror flick "The Cabin in the Woods" on April 13, 2012.

The genre-bending film is helmed by "Cloverfield" writer Drew Goddard, who makes his directorial debut. He and Whedon co-wrote the film.

"This is a movie that operates on many levels, and it works gloriously on every one of them," said Joe Drake, president of Lionsgate's Motion Picture Group. "There is intense fan anticipation for this film, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to deliver what we're sure will be a major zeitgeist movie and an instant horror classic -- and on a Friday the 13th no less."

"Thor" star Chris Hemsworth stars as a young professional who visits a quaint cabin in the woods with a group of friends and ends up scratching the surface of something so massive and horrific that they can only begin to fathom it as time quickly runs out.

"Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard are two filmmakers who I have long admired, and it's an honor and a delight to be in business with them," said Jason Constantine, president of Lionsgate's Acquisitions and Co-Productions "They've made an incredibly terrifying, mind-blowing movie that simultaneously celebrates and innovates the genre that they both know and love so well."

Whedon is the mastermind behind such hits as "Buffy The Vampire Slayer," "Angel," "Firefly," "Dollhouse" and "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog." His also the writer and director of the upcoming "Avengers" film.

Goddard has has held producing and writing credits on "Lost," "Alias," "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" and "Angel."

Liopnsgate will distribute the film in North America and the U.K., with its international sales team handling overseas sales.

MGM, who originally possessed distribution rights to the film, had intended to open the film Jan. 14 after aborting its other release dates of Oct. 23, 2009 and Feb. 5, 2010. However, the studio was forced to juggle the finances for a number of projects, which temporarily shelved the film before Lionsgate stepped into to acquire it.

"The Cabin in the Woods" also stars Fran Kranz ("Dollhouse"), Amy Acker ("Angel," "Dollhouse"), Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford ("The West Wing"), Anna Hutchinson, Kristen Connolly (The Happening"), Brian J. White ("Stomp The Yard"), Jesse Williams ("Brooklyn's Finest").