If Edgar Allan Poe had written screenplays, The Masque of the Red Death would be one eerie Oscar contender. The classic gothic horror tale, draped in dread and dripping in dreadlocks of despair, was penned by literary sorcerer Poe himself. The upcoming adaptation is being helmed by filmmaker Charlie Polinger and will be distributed globally by A24, with Picturestart producing. The plot features opium-soaked decadence, political scheming within a nobleman’s sealed castle. Or at least, it was, with Sydney Sweeney attached to lead the cinematic dance macabre, until the casting gods had other plans.

Sydney Sweeney has waltzed out of the masquerade, leaving filmmakers frantically searching for her ghoulishly glamorous replacement.

Plagued by too many commitments and not enough hours in a day, Sydney Sweeney has departed The Masque of the Red Death, and now she might be replaced by another rising actress, Mikey Madison, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Stepping in, with the glow of an Oscar and a résumé as tightly curated as her skincare routine, Madison, who rose to prominence after her breakout performance in Anora, may now take on dual roles as twin sisters in the gothic horror film that has hit the sweet spot in her very exclusive mood board.

Madison is set to portray twin sisters separated by class, one raised among nobles inside the prince’s plague-proof palace, the other emerging from the peasantry with secrets, schemes, and a thirst for vengeance. Known for her selectivity post-Anora, Madison previously passed on a Star Wars villain role in Starfighter over pay disputes, and declined Reptilia, a romance involving a dental hygienist and a mermaid, a dark new thriller with Kristen Dunst. This maybe her most haunting follow-up yet.

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The Masque of the Red Death seems destined for gothic greatness, making one wonder what could have possibly lured Sydney Sweeney away.

Sydney Sweeney’s departure from The Masque of the Red Death may seem tragic, but one glance at her schedule explains it all. She is currently locked into the third season of Euphoria, which began filming in February 2025 and is eyeing a 2026 premiere. Add to that The Housemaid alongside Amanda Seyfried, plus roles in Echo Valley and Split Fiction, and it is clear, Miss Sweeney’s calendar is not just full, it is bursting at the seams.

With a calendar that busy, it is easy to see why Sydney Sweeney had to let go of the gothic drama. Juggling intense TV shoots and multiple film projects means no room for a castle full of decapitations and opium-fueled orgies, even for a star as talented as she is. Maybe it was for the best for her Once Upon a Time in Hollywood co-star Mikey Madison, who now steps into the spotlight.

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Are you excited to see Mikey Madison in Edgar Allen Poe's short story's adaption? Let us know in the comments down below!