First Set Photos of John Cusak as Edgar Allan Poe in 'The Raven'

So I love John Cusak.  I mean who doesn't?  And I'm a fan of what director James McTeigue has given audiences (both solo and with the Wachowski Brothers) thus far.  So combine the two and I should be excited about the outcome, right?  Right?...

Well unfortunately the project they've come together for is a period piece thriller where Cusak plays Edgar Allen Poe and goes all Liam-Neeson-in-Taken on Londontown.  The film is called The Raven, and no it's not based on the idea brought to light in the underappreciated prematurely canceled series Party Down (10 gold stars if you know what I'm talking about).

Hit the jump to see Cusak in all his Allen Poe glory and to get a full synopsis of the film.

I have to admit looks EERILY like the late poet in these photos.  I mean it's kind of crazy.  I'm very eager to see his take on Poe.  And I'm sure McTeigue will make a beautiful visual landscape out of old London, but I just can't get behind this premise:

The Raven is a fictionalized account of the last days of Edgar Allan Poe's life, in which the poet is in pursuit of a serial killer whose murders mirror those in the writer's stories and has kidnapped the author's fiancee.

Is it bad that I'm more interested to see how this killer mirrors his kills to Poe's stories than anything else this film has to offer?  I guess McTeigue and company will get my price of admission for the same reason the Saw franchise has for the last seven years.

Comments

[Rick]

I especially like the Nike Shoxx shoes he is wearing

[Will]

At least they aren't calling it "P is for Poe".

[Pia]

Yikes!! P.U., John Cusak! Or, I s'pose John Cusak's agent is more appropriate a person to address? I sense a stinkfest in the works!