Wednesday, December 15, 2010

JOHN CUSACK AS POE IN 'THE RAVEN'


Here's the first promotional shot of John Cusack as Edgar Allen Poe in the upcoming film "The Raven." It's a fictionalized account of the final five “mysterious” days of the scribe's life. Great idea! Apparently the famous writer joins the hunt for a serial killer whose murders are inspired by his stories.

Says director James McTeigue ("V For Vendetta"): “It’s like the poem, 'The Raven,' itself, crossed with 'Se7en.' It should be pretty cool. The script is really good and everyone responds to it really well. I’m in the middle of casting.”

The screenplay is written by Hannah Shakespeare (who wrote the 2005 drama "Loverboy," and was a story editor on "Bionic Woman" and "Ghost Whisperer") and Ben Livingston.


"The Machinist" / "Session 9" director Brad Anderson had been previously developing the project.


The real death of Poe was also mysterious. The writer was discovered on the streets of Baltimore in great distress and in need of “immediate assistance.” He was wearing someone else’s clothes and repeating the name “Reynolds”. He died shortly after in hospital, never able to explain what had happened.

Sounds creepy and chilling.

13 comments:

  1. I love Poe, and I had no idea about his mysterious last days. And of course, as an 80s girl, I love John Cusack, so this film is very intriguing.

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  2. Sounds awesome. I think a movie about Poe is long overdue. I've ready many theories about Poe's last days. This fictional account looks like it will be prety entertaining.

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  3. How's this for a shocker... I have never read Poe.. I think I recall reading "Annabelle Lee" in high school. John Cusack is a very good actor, so he should be able to pull this off no problemo..
    Think I'll google Mr. Poe now....

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  4. at the time of his death it was common practice for hired rogues to find a drunk and force him to vote for a candidate over and over at the same voting place, disguising his appearance by changing his clothes and making him memorize another name all while keeping him drinking and beating him into submission. This seems to be the most credible theory out there.

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  5. John Cusack is one of my fav actors. Met him in a bar once, back when I lived in NY (years ago). Nice guy. LOL =D

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  6. Agree with Jhon. That's my favourite theory.

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  7. Poe killed by politics. How depressing.

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  8. Intriguing and marketable, too: Poe-product still sells, tho' difficult to out-do V. Price's priceless Poe flicks--like Pit and Pendulum, worth 10 Tim Burton flicks. Now M,asque of the Red Death made into a flick would be creepadelick.


    Wiki-and google land have a variety of theories regarding EAP's death. One plausible theory holds EAP was shanghai'ed more or less, possibly forced to drink or take opium (keep yr legs togetha Buk grrls!) and used as a vote-shill--fairly common in those rough and tumble days---, which would explain why he was not dressed in his own clothes. Either way, po' EAP was rolled. His prose still a marvelous thang, specially for a yankee, and ripped off for decades.

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  9. Ah, someone else noted the vote-dummy theory. Most likely. Scuzi.

    Another thing--Poe had some enemies (Tidwell?) and apres-Mort they started into the accusations and libel regarding the opium addiction, his relation with his 13 yr old cuz etc. Annabel Lee, oh what sweet ecstasy Might be like Vivid product

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  10. Somehow this movie was completely off my radar. John Cusack? Innnnteresting. I won't judge until I see a trailer.

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  11. He looks fantastic. The Raven is my 2nd fav written thing by Poe. The Tell Tale Heart is the first.

    Cusack will be fantastic, althuogh my mind keeps wanting to say Depp! Use Depp!

    Did you see Cusack in Identity? He raelly is a great actor. Thanks for the haeds up.

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  12. Looks like a very interesting movie, and Cusack looks GREAT with the beard.

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  13. Cusack in the Grifters --a noir classic . As was Miss Bening, and her bod. And Miss Huston. Though they tamed down the uh mama and her boy phamily-phunn described in the Jim Thompson novel.

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