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Showtime series 'Penny Dreadful' brings together favorite Victorian literary characters

'Dreadful' include such characters as Victor Frankenstein and Mina Harker of 'Dracula.'

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Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Actor Reeve Carney portrays the title character of Oscar Wilde's novel 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' in the new TV series 'Penny Dreadful.'
  • By Molly Driscoll Staff Writer

Showtime’s new TV series “Penny Dreadful” doesn’t just center on one famous literary character.

“Dreadful,” which is set in Victorian London, stars “The Lone Ranger” actor Harry Treadaway as Dr. Victor Frankenstein, “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” actor Reeve Carney as Dorian Gray, Rory Kinnear of “Skyfall” as Frankenstein’s creature, and “Pirate Radio” actress Olivia Llewellyn as Count Dracula’s love interest Mina Harker, among others.

“I thought there was incredible excitement to slamming all those myths together,” creator John Logan told Entertainment Weekly.

While the show is violent and many of the characters on the show are known in literature for their villainous ways, Logan said “Dreadful” has a gentler side as well.

“It’s about building a family,” he said. “Admittedly, the creepiest family you can imagine.” 

“Dreadful” premieres on May 11.

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