When it comes to Edgar Allan Poe adaptations, Vincent Price is the first name that comes to mind. Throughout the 50s and 60s, the actor teamed up with director Roger Corman to star in film versions of the author’s classic stories, including House of Usher, The Pit and the Pendulum, and The Raven. Now almost twenty years after the death of his leading man, Corman will re-imagine some of the literature he originally brought to life on the big screen.
The B-movie helmer revealed plans to remake eight of his Poe-based horror films, starting with House of Usher. Mike McClain will the write screenplay for the macabre tale, which is slated to shoot in 2013. The film will begin a two-film-a-year shooting process that includes The Pit and the Pendulum, Premature Burial, Tales of Terror, The Raven, The Haunted Palace, The Masque of the Red Death, and The Tomb of Ligeia. Unlike his previous outings, the 86-year-old filmmaker will only produce the new works – in true Corman tradition, the low budget projects will be financed independently by his company New Horizons Productions, and are estimated to cost between $2 million to $2.5 million dollars per feature.
Despite not taking a directorial role, Corman seems certain of how he wants the films to turn out. He stressed the importance of staying true to the source material, saying that the films will contain plenty of Poe’s horror and erotic elements, but no nudity or added violence. He also hinted at the use of 3D and computer graphics, two resources he said would allow them to do things they “never dreamed of doing before” – knowing his penchant for the outrageous, I can only imagine what those things might be.
Corman’s biggest concern, however, is replacing Price, who became the iconic face of gothic horror films thanks to their partnership. He said he hopes to hire a “fiftysomething actor known from TV” who can match the level of “sensitivity and neuroticism that Vincent was able to bring.” [THR]