A24’s upcoming thriller just got a major boost with some serious star power.
French cinema icon Léa Seydoux has signed on to join Mikey Madison in The Masque of the Red Death, a twisted reimagining of Edgar Allan Poe’s classic tale.
And if the early details are any indication, this isn’t your high school literature class version of the story.
Director Charlie Polinger is taking Poe’s gothic horror into darkly comedic, wildly revisionist territory—complete with twin sisters, palace intrigue, and plenty of decapitations.
A Twisted Tale of Twins and Treachery
While A24 remains tight-lipped about official plot details, sources reveal Madison will portray twin sisters in this radical adaptation.
The story centers on a mad prince who shelters nobility inside his opulent castle while plague ravages the peasant population outside. One twin lives among the elite, while her long-lost sister survives hidden among the lower class.
When the peasant twin infiltrates the castle, she enters a decadent world filled with orgies, opium, power schemes, revenge, and yes—beheadings. Think The Favourite meets Eyes Wide Shut with a Poe-inspired plague backdrop.
Seydoux as Scheming Royalty
Seydoux will play a conniving lady-in-waiting determined to climb the social ladder by any means necessary.
It’s the kind of role the Palme d’Or winner excels at—sophisticated, calculating, dangerous. Her ability to convey duplicity beneath aristocratic elegance makes her perfect casting for A24’s twisted period piece.
The project reunites major players behind the camera as well. Julia Hammer and Erik Feig are producing for Picturestart, with James Presson and Lucy McKendrick also aboard. Polinger serves as executive producer, with production scheduled to begin in Hungary this February.
From Cannes to Bond to A24
Seydoux has built a remarkable career ping-ponging between French arthouse cinema and Hollywood blockbusters.
She made her Hollywood debut in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds before landing roles in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol and two James Bond films, including Spectre. Most recently, she appeared as Lady Margot Fenring in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two.
The five-time César Award nominee shows no signs of slowing down. This year alone, she’ll appear in three highly anticipated projects:
- The Unknown from Oscar-winning screenwriter Arthur Harari
- Gentle Monster alongside Catherine Deneuve, directed by Marie Kreutzer
- Alpha Gang with Cate Blanchett and Dave Bautista from the Zellner Brothers
Why This Matters
A24 has mastered the art of elevated genre filmmaking, from The Witch to Hereditary to X.
Pairing Madison—fresh off her breakout performance in Anora—with an international powerhouse like Seydoux signals serious ambitions for The Masque of the Red Death. Madison playing dual roles adds layers of complexity, while Seydoux’s European sophistication brings instant credibility to period intrigue.
The combination of Poe’s gothic sensibilities, A24’s boundary-pushing aesthetic, and this powerhouse cast could deliver something truly unique. Early descriptions promise a darkly comedic tone that subverts expectations—exactly what audiences have come to expect from the studio.
What to Expect
Production kicks off in Hungary next month, with A24 handling worldwide distribution.
Filming in Eastern Europe often provides authentic period architecture and cost-effective production value, perfect for creating the opulent yet plague-ridden world Polinger envisions. Hungary has become a popular destination for historical dramas, offering castles, countryside, and experienced crews.
The “wildly revisionist” approach suggests significant departures from Poe’s original 1842 short story. While the source material focused on Prince Prospero’s doomed masquerade ball during the Red Death plague, this version expands the narrative with class warfare, twin identities, and political scheming.
Madison’s rising star power combined with Seydoux’s international appeal positions The Masque of the Red Death as both festival-ready prestige fare and potential commercial success. A24 clearly sees awards potential here, especially with two acclaimed actresses leading a visually ambitious period piece.
The Bottom Line
This casting announcement elevates an already intriguing project into must-watch territory.
Seydoux brings gravitas, experience, and international box office appeal. Madison brings contemporary energy and proven dramatic chops. Together, under A24’s banner, they’re poised to deliver a deliciously twisted take on classic gothic horror.
Expect opulent costumes, morally compromised characters, gorgeous cinematography, and plenty of dark humor. If Polinger can balance the tonal shifts between comedy and horror while maintaining the class commentary inherent in Poe’s work, The Masque of the Red Death could become A24’s next cult classic.
Seydoux is represented by Agence Adequat and UTA. With production beginning next month, more casting announcements should follow soon as the ensemble fills out this darkly decadent world.