Sky Atlantic reads up on Showtime’s Penny Dreadful

UK satellite channel Sky Atlantic will coproduce the upcoming Sam Mendes-produced Showtime thriller drama Penny Dreadful.

The BSkyB-owned channel is now attached to the eight-part series, which was created by Oscar-nominee John Logan and has American Beauty director Mendes on board as executive producer. Logan and Mendes previously hooked up on James Bond feature Skyfall and this represents their first foray into television together.

The psychological drama will feature some of literature’s most iconic horror characters, including Dr. Frankenstein and Dorian Gray and follow actor Josh Hartnett as an American that finds himself trapped in the darkest ends of Victorian London. Eva Green, Timothy Dalton, Billie Piper and Rory Kinnear are also set to feature in the show.

Anne Mensah, Sky’s head of drama, said: “I could not be more excited to be bringing Penny Dreadful to Sky’s customers. We’re thrilled to be working with John Logan and Sam Mendes on what will be a stunning, mesmerising and terrifying series on a cinematic scale – all of which makes it perfect for Sky Atlantic.”

Mendes’ Neal Street Productions coproduces, alongside Desert Wolf Productions, Sky Atlantic and Showtime, which chose to produce the show in London to tap into the new UK drama tax credit.