The Raven: Official First Look at John Cusack as Edgar Allan Poe

Relativity Media has unveiled the first official photo of John Cusack as poet Edgar Allan Poe in “The Raven” thriller, which is set to hit theaters on April 27th, 2012 and directed by “V for Vendetta” helmer James McTeigue. Hit the jump to read film's synopsis and check out the photo. Synopsis: In this gritty thriller, Edgar Allen Poe (John Cusack, Being John Malkovich) joins forces with a young Baltimore detective (Luke Evans, Immortals) to hunt down a mad serial killer who's using Poe's own works as the basis in a string of brutal murders. Directed by James McTeigue (V for Vendetta), the film also stars Alice Eve (Sex and the City 2), Brendan Gleeson (In Bruges) and Oliver Jackson-Cohen (Faster). When a mother and daughter are found brutally murdered in 19th century Baltimore, Detective Emmett Fields (Luke Evans) makes a startling discovery: the crime resembles a fictional murder described in gory detail in the local newspaper—part of a collection of stories penned by struggling writer and social pariah Edgar Allan Poe. But even as Poe is questioned by police, another grisly murder occurs, also inspired by a popular Poe story. Realizing a serial killer is on the loose using Poe's writings as the backdrop for his bloody rampage, Fields enlists the author's help in stopping the attacks. But when it appears someone close to Poe may become the murderer's next victim, the stakes become even higher and the inventor of the detective story calls on his own powers of deduction to try to solve the case before it's too late. Additional cast include Brendan Coyle, Kevin McNally, Pam Ferris and Dave Legeno.

John Cusack as Edgar Alan Poe, The Raven (2012) / click to enlarge