Landmark television collaboration between Skyfall duo John Logan and Sam Mendes, starring Josh Hartnett and Eva Green

·         Billie Piper latest addition to the cast

Sky Atlantic is to partner with SHOWTIME on PENNY DREADFUL, a frightening psychological thriller 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 Pippa Harris (Revolutionary Road, Call The Midwife) both of Neal Street Productions.

In PENNY DREADFUL, some of literature’s most famously terrifying characters – including Doctor Frankenstein, 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.

Josh Hartnett (Pearl Harbour) will take on the role of ‘Ethan Chandler,’ a charming American who finds himself trapped in the darkest corners of Victorian London, while Eva Green (Casino Royale) will play ‘Vanessa Ives,’ a seductive and formidable beauty full of secrets and danger.

Billie Piper (Doctor Who) will play the role of Brona Croft, an Irish immigrant in Victorian London trying to escape a dark past. Piper joins Rory Kinnear (Skyfall), Harry Treadaway (The Lone Ranger) and Reeve Carney (Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark) who will also star. Carney will play Dorian Grey in a reprisal of Oscar Wilde’s supernaturally attractive and decadent young hero and Kinnear will play a mysterious character of haunting intensity. In an exciting new version of Mary Shelley’s inspired and obsessed genius, Treadaway will take on the role of Dr. Victor Frankenstein. Timothy Dalton (The Living Daylights, License to Kill) also stars as Sir Malcolm, a hardened African explorer on a deeply personal quest.

This project marks Logan and Mendes’ second major collaboration following Skyfall, their recent critically-acclaimed and box office record-breaking James Bond movie, which Mendes directed and Logan co-wrote; and their first ever collaboration for television.

John Logan says, "I'm thrilled to be bringing Penny Dreadful to life here in the UK, where the show is set and was conceived over many years of wandering the streets of London. I think the talent we are bringing together for the show promises to create something memorable."

About the series, Anne Mensah, Sky’s Head of Drama, commented: “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.”

?"John Logan and Sam Mendes are two of the great storytellers of our time," said David Nevins, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks "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."

PENNY DREADFUL is being produced for Sky Atlantic and Showtime by Neal Street Productions and Desert Wolf Productions.

PENNY DREADFUL joins a growing slate of original UK drama commissions for Sky Atlantic HD, which began with critically acclaimed mini-series HIT & MISS and recent detective thriller, FALCÓN. Other upcoming original drama commissions on Sky Atlantic HD include THE TUNNEL and FLEMING. The commission is part of Sky’s commitment to increase investment in original content by 50%, and by 2014, Sky expects to invest £600 million a year in British programmes across its portfolio of channels.

Notes to editor

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Sky is the UK and Ireland’s leading home entertainment and communications company.  Around 40% of all homes have a direct relationship with Sky through its range of TV, broadband and home telephony services.

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About Showtime:

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND, and the network's authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®.

SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.