Mikey Madison Eyed for 'Masque of the Red Death': Fans Fear It's a New 'Saltburn'

Recent Oscar winner Mikey Madison is in talks to star in A24's adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's The Masque of the Red Death.

Madison would be replacing Sydney Sweeney, who was originally attached to the project but had to drop it because of scheduling conflicts.

What Is ‘The Masque of the Red Death’ About?

The film, directed by Charlie Polinger, will see Madison playing twin sisters. One of them is a princess captured in the mad prince’s castle while a devastating plague, the Red Death, destroys the country.

Another one is a part of the lower class, and she actually sees the plague operating. However, she finds a way into the castle as well, and witnesses the bizarre life people have there while the world is literally ending.

The highlight: The movie promises to be a significant departure from Poe's original short story, and the fans of the author are starting to feel worried about it.

Another concern is the fact that the upcoming movie is described as a “quintessential A24 film” with “eye-brow raising, meme-able scenes that should resonate among the TikTok class.”

This specific phrasing has set off alarm bells across social media. Users are noting that such a description does not sound promising, particularly given recent criticisms of films that prioritize viral moments over storytelling integrity.

Fans Are Already Comparing ‘The Masque of the Red Death’ to ‘Saltburn’ — Here’s Why

The description of the new movie immediately drew comparisons to Emerald Fennell's Saltburn, which faced significant backlash for what many perceived as shock tactics created specifically for social media virality.

“I've read the script last year, and just in the opening scene alone there's some Saltburn-level stuff (maybe more extreme, depending on how it's shot) going on, so maybe that's what they're referring to?” Redditor Wise-News1666 said.

“It sounds like begging consumers who like short content to come to the movies,” another Redditor, citizenjones, noted.

Concerns: Fans fear that A24's Masque of the Red Death might follow a similar playbook, turning Poe's atmospheric tale of plague, isolation, and mortality into a mix of cringeworthy moments designed to trend on social platforms rather than honor the source material's Gothic horror legacy.

But not everyone is ready to abandon all hope on the upcoming Poe adaptation.

“It's saying the movie will have scenes that will be easily turned into pop culture moments. it's nothing to do with attracting short content fans back to the films, it's about putting films into the short content and using that to sell more tickets,” another Redditor said.

The big picture: This controversy reflects a growing tension in modern filmmaking between artistic integrity and marketing potential. Whether Madison's involvement and her proven dramatic chops can elevate the material beyond its seemingly cynical marketing approach remains to be seen.