Showtime’s ‘Penny Dreadful': Timothy Dalton Joins Eva Green-Josh Hartnett Monster Mash

We were admittedly a bit in the dark over Showtime's purported monster mash-up drama 'Penny Dreadful' until the announcement finally arrived that stars Josh Hartnett and Eva Green ('300: Rise of an Empire') would take the leading roles, and today the drama continues taking shape. Former James Bond actor Timothy Dalton has joined the mysterious horror-drama in a regular role, but as whom?

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Dalton will play Sir Malcolm, a hardened African explorer on a deeply personal quest, though no more specific information is available. Hartnett will take the role of Ethan Chandler, a “man of action and daring” who doesn’t shy away from violence, while Green will play female lead Vanessa, enigmatic with similarly haunted eyes, coming to prove herself “a force to be reckoned with and the heroine of the series.”

Helmed by 'Skyfall' duo Sam Mendes and John Logan, Showtime describes the “psychosexual horror series” thusly:

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.

We’ll keep you updated with the latest from Showtime’s new series, but what say you? Are you interested in ‘Penny Dreadful,’ now that James Bond himself has joined the ranks? Tell us if you drop a Lincoln on 'Penny Dreadful' when shooting begins this October for a likely spring airdate!