Opening in theaters on April 27th is a new thriller from director James McTeigue (V for Vendetta) called The Raven, which features John Cusack (Grosse Point Blank) as literary legend Edgar Allan Poe. The film is a fictionalized account of the last eight days of Poe's life, in which the poet and author pursues a serial killer whose murders mirror those in his stories. In addition to Cusack the film also stars Alice Eve (ATM), Luke Evans (Immortals), Brendan Gleeson (The Guard), Kevin McNally (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) and M. Emmet Walsh (The Mighty Quinn). 

IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had the pleasure of sitting down with director James McTeigue to discuss The Raven. The accomplished director talked about his new movie, its fictional story, why John Cusack was the perfect actor to play Edgar Allan Poe, the film's amazing locations, tone, Alice Eve's secret, and what Poe himself would think of the film. 

Actor Luke Evans has recently gained attention worldwide for his work in a string of period films including Clash of the Titans, Robin Hood, The Three Musketeers and director Tarsem Singh’s Immortals. Not to mention that he will soon be seen playing Bard the Bowman in director Peter Jackson’s highly anticipated The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, and The Hobbit: There and Back Again. But first, Evans will be starring in another period movie entitled The Raven, which opens in theaters on April 27^th and features a fictional account of the final days of acclaimed author Edgar Allan Poe’s life.

In the film, Evans plays Detective Emmett Fields, a 19^th century Baltimore policeman who makes a shocking discovery: the crime he is investigating resembles a fictional murder described in detail as part of a collection of stories penned by struggling writer and social pariah Edgar Allan Poe (John Cusack). Realizing a serial killer is on the loose using Poe’s writings as inspiration for his bloody rampage, Fields enlists the author’s help in stopping the attacks. However, when it appears as if the murderer’s next victim is someone Poe cares about, the stakes become even higher and now the inventor of modern detective stories must call on his own powers of deduction to try to solve the case before its too late. The Raven was directed by James McTeigue (V for Vendetta), and in addition to Cusack and Evans, also stars Alice Eve (ATM), Brendan Gleeson (The Guard), and Kevin McNally (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides).

I recently had a chance to speak with actor Luke Evans about his work on The Raven, as well as the upcoming The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, and The Hobbit: There and Back Again. Evans discussed his new film, the work of Edgar Allan Poe, his initial reaction to the script and its fictional story, what he learned from working with John Cusack, the film’s locations, his character, director James McTiegue’s vision for the project, shooting The Hobbit films, living in New Zealand, Peter Jackson’s infectious passion, and being a part of the incredible cinematic Lord of the Rings universe.

Opening in theaters on April 27th is a new thriller from director James McTeigue (V for Vendetta) called The Raven, which features John Cusack (Grosse Point Blank) as literary legend Edgar Allan Poe. The film is a fictionalized account of the last eight days of Poe's life, in which the poet and author pursues a serial killer whose murders mirror those in his stories. In addition to Cusack the film also stars Alice Eve (ATM), Luke Evans (Immortals), Brendan Gleeson (The Guard), Kevin McNally (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) and M. Emmet Walsh (The Mighty Quinn). 

IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Alice Eve to discuss her work on The Raven. The actress talked about her new film, her prior knowledge of Edgar Allan Poe's work, the film's fictional story, being buried alive, working with John Cusack, and how the film's locations and costumes helped the actress create her character.

Opening in theaters on April 27th is a new thriller from director James McTeigue (V for Vendetta) called The Raven, which features John Cusack (Grosse Point Blank) as literary legend Edgar Allan Poe. The film is a fictionalized account of the last eight days of Poe's life, in which the poet and author pursues a serial killer whose murders mirror those in his stories. In addition to Cusack the film also stars Alice Eve (ATM), Luke Evans (Immortals), Brendan Gleeson (The Guard), Kevin McNally (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) and M. Emmet Walsh (The Mighty Quinn). 

IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had the pleasure of sitting down with John Cusack to discuss his work on The Raven. The actor talked about his new film, the responsibility he felt playing Poe, the movie's fictional narrative, and director James McTeigue's vision for the unique project.

Opening in theaters on April 27th is a new thriller from director James McTeigue (V for Vendetta) called The Raven, which features John Cusack (Grosse Point Blank) as literary legend Edgar Allan Poe. The film is a fictionalized account of the last eight days of Poe's life, in which the poet and author pursues a serial killer whose murders mirror those in his stories. In addition to Cusack the film also stars Alice Eve (ATM), Luke Evans (Immortals), Brendan Gleeson (The Guard), Kevin McNally (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) and M. Emmet Walsh (The Mighty Quinn). 

The Rogue Movie Network and IAR are proud to present this exclusive conversation with John Cusack and director James McTeigue about The Raven. Cusack and McTeigue discussed the new film, looking for original material, McTeigue's habit of making revenge movies, why Cusack was right for the role, Poe's literary influence, and the reasons why this fictional story lends more scope to the author's life than a proper biopic would. 

You might not know him by name, but you would definitely recognize actor Greg Ellis if you saw his face. Ellis has appeared on dozens of popular television shows such as X-Files, Nip/Tuck, Trust Me, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and season three of 24 as biological weapons dealer Michael Amador. He’s also had roles in several successful feature films including the Academy Award-winning Titanic, Beowulf, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek where the actor had the honor of being the new franchise’s first official “red shirt” (a stock character who dies soon after being introduced). But Ellis is best known for his role as Lieutenant Theodore Groves in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, including last summer’s mega-hit Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, which is available now on Blu-ray and DVD.

Ellis first played Groves in the original Pirates movie, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and while he did not appear in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, he did return to the series for the third chapter, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. But the actor’s largest role in the series came with the most recent edition to the franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. In the film, Groves is promoted to Lieutenant Commander while working with Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) aboard the H.M.S. Providence to find the Fountain of Youth. He aids Barbossa and Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) on their quest to find the Fountain and claims it for the British Empire before ultimately battling Blackbeard (Ian McShane) and the Spaniards.

I recently had a chance to speak with actor Greg Ellis about Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. The actor spoke candidly with me about the film, his character’s evolution, playing sidekick to Geoffrey Rush’s Barbossa, the differences between working with the film’s director Rob Marshall and former Pirates director Gore Verbinski, his reaction the first time he saw Johnny Depp play Jack Sparrow, playing the first “red shirt” in Star Trek, and the loophole that J.J. Abrams has come up with so that Ellis can possibly appear in Star Trek 2.

For the two people in all of America who were not yet aware that this Friday sees the release of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Disney has released two behind-the-scenes featurettes on the fourth installment of the swashbucking uber-franchise starring Johnny Depp.  The first focuses on the supporting players, including Penelope Cruz, Sam Claflin and returning actors Geoffrey Rush and Kevin McNally.  The second offers new looks at Ian McShane's Blackbeard, his zombie crew, and the mermaids who terrorize unsuspecting pirates.  Give 'em both a watch and shiver your timbers, whatever that means.