Tuesday 1 September 2015

PENNY DREADFUL adds Dr Jekyll to its gang of Victorian misfits

Tuesday 1 September 2015

The currently-filming third season of Showtime and Sky Atlantic's Penny Dreadful will involve another character from Victorian literature: Dr Henry Jekyll, the mad scientist with a split personality called Mr Hyde, created by author Robert Louis Stevenson. Shazad Latif (The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Spooks) will play the iconic role, presenting a change to the character's ethnicity.

More surprising is the return of Patty LuPone, who played Vanessa Ives' mentor the Cut-Wife in a season 2 highlight. She won't be reprising that well-received role, but will instead play Dr Seward (an originally male character from Bram Stoker's Dracula), who treats Vanessa with an unconventional new approach.

Other new cast members include: Christian Camargo (Dexter, The Hurt Locker) as Dr. Alexander Sweet, a zoologist who befriends Vanessa; Sam Barnett (2012, Jupiter Ascending) as Dr. Seward's mysterious young secretary; Wes Studi (Hell On Wheels) as a Native American called Kaetenay who has a connection to Ethan (Josh Hartnett) and becomes an ally to Sir Malcolm (Timothy Dalton); and Jessica Barden (Far from the Madding Crowd) as Justine, a young acolyte to Lily (Billie Piper) and Dorian Gray (Reeve Carney).

PENNY DREADFUL will return in 2016.