Showtime has landed a great sounding new horror series from Skyfall director Sam Mendes and screenwriter John Logan. The psychosexual horror project is called Penny Dreadful which will feature some of horror literature’s most famous characters. Some of those characters include Dr. Frankenstein and his monster, Dorian Gray and Dracula – as they become embroiled in Victorian London. Showtime Entertainment President David Nevins says the ensemble series will be “very realistic and very grounded, not Bela Lugosi. All exist in human form in turn-of-century London.” He added that Logan “has been obsessed with monsters in literature since childhood.” He wrote the project on spec, and it was reported that he will write every episode of the series. They also hope that Mendes will direct the series as well.
Here's a description of very cool sounding series:
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 recent critically-acclaimed and 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.
I'm looking forward to seeing how this series turns out, because it sounds like it has some pretty awesome potential. On top of the it's got a couple of very talented individuals brining it to life. What are your thoughts on the new series? Here's the more info from the press release:
LOS ANGELES, CA (January 12, 2013) – Some of literature’s most iconic figures will step into the light on SHOWTIME in PENNY DREADFUL, a psychosexual horror series 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, Revolutionary Road) and Neal Street’s Pippa Harris (Revolutionary Road, Call The Midwife), it was announced today by David Nevins, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks. PENNY DREADFUL will begin production in London in the second half of 2013.
“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.”