Léa Seydoux Boards A24’s Bold New Poe Horror Adaptation

Léa Seydoux is set to appear alongside Mikey Madison in A24’s upcoming adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death. The project, described as a darkly comic and wildly revisionist horror, is gearing up to start filming next month, though there’s no word yet on when punters can expect it to hit screens.

According to reports, Madison will take on the challenging role of twin sisters, while Seydoux steps into the shoes of a cunning lady-in-waiting, intent on climbing the social ladder by any means necessary. The story centres on a deranged prince who shelters the upper crust in his castle as a deadly plague sweeps through the common folk. Amidst the chaos, a long-lost twin, hidden among the lower class, infiltrates the castle, plunging into a world of excess, power plays, vengeance, and grisly beheadings.

Twisted Take on a Classic Tale

While the film draws inspiration from Poe’s 1842 gothic short story, A24 is pitching it as a “wildly revisionist and darkly comedic” spin. The original tale follows Prince Prospero, who tries to dodge a rampant disease by locking himself and his fellow nobles away in an abbey. There, he throws a lavish masquerade ball, only for a mysterious guest dressed as a plague victim to crash the party, with chilling consequences. The story has seen the big screen before, most notably in a 1964 adaptation starring Vincent Price.

This new version, however, promises to take the material in a fresh direction, blending horror with biting humour and a modern sensibility. The film will be directed by Charlie Polinger, who made his feature debut last year with the psychological horror The Plague, featuring Joel Edgerton.

Star Power and Production Plans

Seydoux, known for her roles in Dune: Part Two, No Time to Die, and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, brings serious star power to the project. Madison, who picked up an Oscar for her performance in 2024’s comedy-drama Anora, is set to tackle a demanding dual role that’s sure to draw attention.

Production is scheduled to begin next month, but there’s no official release date just yet. In the meantime, horror fans can keep an eye out for more updates as the cast and crew prepare to bring this bold new vision to life.