Léa Seydoux Joins Mikey Madison in A24’s Dark Reimagining of THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH

Léa Seydoux is officially stepping into the world of The Masque of the Red Death, joining Mikey Madison in A24 and Picturestart’s new feature that reimagines Edgar Allan Poe’s classic short story through a revisionist, darkly comedic lens.

The original Poe story, first published in 1842, centers on Prince Prospero and a circle of nobles who barricade themselves inside a fortified abbey while a deadly plague tears through the outside world.

What begins as a lavish attempt to escape reality spirals into something far more disturbing when an uninvited presence infiltrates their masked ball, forcing the revelers to confront the horror they thought they could ignore.

There are no details on who Seydoux will be playing in the movie. The film comes from writer-director Charlie Polinger, who recently premiered his debut feature The Plague at Cannes.

Seydoux’s career makes her a natural fit for this kind of material. She’s collaborated with filmmakers like Wes Anderson, Yorgos Lanthimos, David Cronenberg, Bertrand Bonello, and Mia Hansen-Løve, and recently appeared in Dune: Part Two for Denis Villeneuve.

Many fans also know her as Madeleine Swann from the James Bond films Spectre and No Time to Die. Looking ahead, Seydoux has a packed slate that includes Arthur Harari’s The Unknown, Marie Kreutzer’s Gentle Monster alongside Catherine Deneuve, and the Zellner Brothers’ Alpha Gang with Cate Blanchett and Dave Bautista.

Between Seydoux’s auteur-friendly résumé, Madison’s rising profile, and Polinger’s off-kilter sensibility, The Masque of the Red Death could be a fresh and timely spin on a story that’s haunted readers for generations.