John Cusack to play Edgar Allan Poe in The Raven

Now lauded as one of 19th century America's most important writers, a master of the macabre short story and grandfather of the detective genre, Edgar Allan Poe's life ended in mystery and squalor.

Found wandering the streets in someone else's clothes, deliriously calling out the name "Reynolds" and apparently drunk, the cause of Poe's death has never been satisfactorily explained.

That hasn't stopped director James McTeigue from stepping in to helm a movie dedicated to a replication of the writer's murky final days. Called The Raven, it's far from a slavish examination of the facts, however, and instead deals with the fictional story of Poe's attempt to catch a serial killer inspired by his gruesome tales.

It's an intriguing premise, made all the more promising by the news that John Cusack has signed up to play the part of Poe. The actor certainly looks the part - the simple application of a moustache and a side parting should do the trick - and it'll be interesting to see how he chooses to play one of US literature's most enigmatic, tortured characters.

There's no word yet as to who's lined up to play the film's other central roles, which include the serial killer and the detective whom Poe assists in catching him, but with the film scheduled to begin shooting in October, we can expect to hear more about The Raven very soon.

Filmonic