Horror Series Penny Dreadful Coming To SHOWTIME 10PM Sunday May 11, 2014

Horror Series Penny Dreadful Coming To SHOWTIME 10PM Sunday May 11, 2014 


via press release:
Production Began Fall Of 2013 In Dublin Ireland/London UK

An erotically-charged, profoundly unsettling new saga, PENNY DREADFUL completely reinvents literature's most iconic and terrifying characters. Dorian Gray, Victor Frankenstein and timeless figures from Dracula join a core of original characters in a dark and brutal quest to save a soul -- even as they grapple with their own monstrous temptations. Starring Josh Hartnett, Timothy Dalton and Eva Green.

"PENNY DREADFUL" RECEIVES SERIES COMMITMENT FROM SHOWTIME

Horror Series Marks Landmark Television Collaboration From Skyfall Duo John Logan And Sam Mendes

CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED DIRECTOR JUAN ANTONIO BAYONA TO DIRECT FIRST TWO EPISODES OF SHOWTIME® SERIES PENNY DREADFUL

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 18, 2013) – Critically-acclaimed, award-winning Spanish director Juan Antonio Bayona (The Impossible, The Orphanage) will helm the first two episodes in the eight episode series order of the upcoming SHOWTIME drama PENNY DREADFUL – created, written and executive produced by three-time Oscar® nominee John Logan (Hugo, The Aviator, Gladiator) and executive produced by Oscar winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Skyfall) and Neal Street's Pippa Harris (Revolutionary Road, Call The Midwife). PENNY DREADFUL, a psychosexual horror series, features some of literature’s most iconic figures, it was announced by David Nevins, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks. PENNY DREADFUL will begin production in London in the fall of 2013.

In PENNY DREADFUL, some of literature’s most famously terrifying characters – including Dr. Frankenstein and his creature, Dorian Gray and iconic figures from the novel Dracula – become embroiled in Victorian London.

The series weaves together these classic horror origin stories as the characters grapple with their monstrous alienation.

This project marks Logan and Mendes’ second major collaboration, following Skyfall, their box office record-breaking James Bond film,

which Mendes directed and Logan co-wrote; and their first ever collaboration for television. The project will be produced by Mendes' production company Neal Street Productions.

Bayona is an acclaimed and award-winning director, best known for his work on the hugely successful 2007 horror film The Orphanage and the 2012 Oscar-contender The Impossible, starring Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts in her Golden Globe® and Oscar-nominated role.

"John Logan and Sam Mendes are two of the great storytellers of our time," said Nevins. "The visual spectacle combined with the psychological insight in their reimagining of these iconic literary characters seems totally mesmerizing to me. This promises to be a wholly original television show."


Logan will write every episode of the show, and while the initial hope was that Mendes could helm a couple of installments, he is likely knee-deep in development on Bond 24 (which Logan is also writing). Showtime has ordered an eight-episode first season of Penny Dreadful, with Bayona on tap to direct the first two.