Idris Elba is developing Marc Olden’s historic thriller “Poe Must Die” as a trilogy through his Green Door Production Co.
The story, published in 1978, is set in New York City in the 1840s, with Edgar Allan Poe fighting demonic forces and his personal demons while teaming with a renowned fighter pursuing a sorcerer who murdered the fighter’s wife. The sorcerer is seeking the Throne of Solomon, which will grant him immortality and control over Lucifer.
Elba is producing and starring in Jim O’Hanlon’s drama “A Hundred Streets” along with Gemma Arterton, Samantha Banks, Ken Stott, Charlie Creed-Miles, Tom Cullen and Steve Mackintosh. The British actor will be seen in Marvel-Disney’s “The Avengers: Age of Ultron” and is voicing Shere Khan in Disney’s “The Jungle Book.”
The option deal for “Poe Must Die” was negotiated by Dana Spector at Paradigm, on behalf of Liza Fleissig at Liza Royce Agency.
The news was first reported by Publishers Weekly.
