Penny Dreadful (TV series)
Penny Dreadful | |
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Genre | |
Created by | John Logan |
Directed by | Juan Antonio Bayona |
Country of origin | |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Production location | London, England |
Production companies |
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Original release | |
Network | Showtime |
Penny Dreadful is an upcoming psychosexual horror TV series created for Showtime by John Logan and executive produced by Logan and Sam Mendes. The series will weave together the origins of literary horror characters, such as Victor Frankenstein, Frankenstein's monster, Dorian Gray, and Count Dracula, as they grapple with their monstrous alienation in Victorian London.
The show was originally pitched to several US and UK channels, but eventually landed with Showtime,[1] with Sky Atlantic as co-producer.
Cast
- Josh Hartnett as Ethan Chandler, a charming, brash, daring man of action who is unafraid of violence and more complicated than he likes to admit.[2]
- Eva Green as Vanessa Ives, an enigmatic, composed heroine who proves herself a force to be reckoned with.[2]
- Billie Piper as Brona Croft, an Irish immigrant seeking to escape her dark past.[3]
- Rory Kinnear[4]
- Timothy Dalton as Sir Malcolm, a hardened African explorer on a deeply personal quest.[5]
- Reeve Carney as Dorian Gray, a confident, mesmerizing, yet somewhat isolated man.[6]
- Harry Treadaway as Victor Frankenstein[7]
- Helen McCrory as Madame Kali, a spiritualist.[8]
- Simon Russell Beale as Ferdinand Lyle, an eccentric Egyptologist.[8]
- Danny Sapani as Sembene, a longtime ally of Sir Malcolm.[8]
Production
In January 2013, it was announced that Showtime had made a series commitment for the project. Logan and Mendes previously wrote and directed Skyfall respectively. Production is set to begin in London in the second half of 2013. Showtime president David Nevins stated that the tone of the ensemble series will be "very realistic and very grounded, not Bela Lugosi. All exist in human form in turn-of-century London." Logan, a lifelong fan of literary monsters, wrote the project on spec and will script every episode of the series. It was intended that Mendes would direct episodes, but scheduling prevented this.[9][10]
In May 2013, Juan Antonio Bayona announced that he would be working on the series as director, with production commencing in September 2013.[11] Bayona will direct the first two episodes of the first series, which will consist of eight episodes.[10]
In March 2013, it was announced that the series would be filmed in the United Kingdom; eyeing the new UK tax credit for high-end TV productions that offers a 25% rebate[12] however, it was reported in August that production would instead take place in Bray's Ardmore Studios and other locations around Dublin, Ireland, because of the country's section 481 tax incentives. Filming began on 7 October and will last 5 months.[13] Reports indicate that the change was made as no stage space of a sufficient caliber was available due to the filming of major motion pictures in London.[14]
In December 2013, Showtime announced its first-ever production blog for a series with the launch of The Penny Dreadful Production Blog. The venue will give viewers an online behind-the-scenes look at the series' production from its early stages of filming in Ireland through the end of the first season, featuring interviews with cast and crew. The blog has its own website and the videos will also be released on YouTube.[15]
In one of the production video blog's, a Victorian style newspaper front page is featured with the headline "Is Jack Back", starting speculation that Jack the Ripper will somehow tie-in to the show.[16]
References
- ^ http://www.list.co.uk/article/46586-sam-mendes-to-direct-vampire-tv-series/
- ^ a b Goldberg, Leslie (July 30, 2013). "Eva Green, Josh Hartnett to Star in Showtime's Penny Dreadful". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
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(help) - ^ Rigby, Sam (August 20, 2013). "Billie Piper cast in Showtime's Penny Dreadful". RTE.ie. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
- ^ "Billie Piper joins Josh Hartnett in Showtime's Penny Dreadful". Digital Spy. August 20, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
- ^ http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/timothy-dalton-joins-showtimes-penny-613588
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (August 26, 2013). "Spider-Man's Reeve Carney Nabs Key Role in Showtime's Penny Dreadful (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
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(help) - ^ Goldberg, Lesley (September 9, 2013). "Showtime Horror Drama Penny Dreadful Casts its Frankenstein". Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ^ a b c Rigby, Sam (September 16, 2013). "Penny Dreadful: Helen McCrory, Simon Russell Beale join cast". Digital Spy. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
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(help) - ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 12, 2013). "It's Official: Showtime Lands Horror Drama From 'Skyfall's John Logan & Sam Mendes". deadline.com. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
- ^ a b Chitwood, Adam (June 18, 2013). "Juan Antonio Bayona to Direct Sam Mendes and John Logan's Showtime Horror Series PENNY DREADFUL". collider.com. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
- ^ Connelly, Brendon (June 13, 2013). "The Orphanage's JA Bayona To Direct Sam Mendes And John Logan's Penny Dreadful". bleedingcool.com. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
- ^ Curtis, Chris (25 March 2013). "Tax breaks to bring Showtime's Penny Dreadful to UK". screendaily.com. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- ^ Cronin, Kevin (August 20, 2013). "Penny Dreadful, Set to Film in Ireland, Adds Billie Piper to Cast". IFTN. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
- ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (September 30, 2013). "Hollywood Pics Pack UK Soundstages As Space Crunch Starts To Squeeze". Deadline.com. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
- ^ Showtime Launches 'Penny Dreadful' Production Blog
- ^ http://variety.com/2014/tv/news/showtimes-penny-dreadful-director-on-giving-life-to-a-new-creature-exclusive-video-1201040653/
External links
- 2010s American television series
- 2014 American television series debuts
- 2010s British television series
- 2014 British television programme debuts
- American drama television series
- British drama television series
- British supernatural television programmes
- Crossover drama television series
- Dracula television programs
- Horror fiction television series
- Period television series
- Television shows set in London
- The Picture of Dorian Gray
- Screenplays by John Logan
- Showtime (TV network) original programs
- Works based on Frankenstein
- Upcoming television series