Victorian horror series ‘Penny Dreadful’, shot entirely in Ireland, has been renewed for a third season by Showtime.
The US network have ordered nine more episodes of the BAFTA-winning series which stars Eva Green, Josh Hartnett and Timothy Dalton. The 24 week shoot is expected to begin on August 31st.
Co-produced in Ireland by Octagon Films, the first two seasons of ‘Penny Dreadful’ were shot in Dublin and Wicklow, particularly in Ardmore Studios outside Bray.
Key Irish creative roles on the series include cinematographers Owen McPolin and John Conroy, set decorator Philip Murphy (who recently won a BAFTA for his work on the show), master painter Neville Gaynor, prop master David Flanagan, construction manager Nicky MacManus and locations managers Maria O’Connor and Colm Nolan. Irish director Dearbhla Walsh was also recently IFTA-nominated for working on the show. Equipment was provided by Dublin-based 24/7 Drama.
Irish actress Sarah Greene (who recently won two IFTA’s – Rising Star and Supporting Actress Film) also featured in the second season of the show, which is airing now on Sky Atlantic.
Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys last year stated that that the first season alone of Penny Dreadful was worth €33m to the Irish economy.
‘Penny Dreadful’ is created, written and executive produced by Oscar nominee John Logan (‘Hugo’, ‘The Aviator’, ‘Gladiator’) and executive produced by Logan’s Desert Wolf Productions, along with Oscar winner Sam Mendes (‘American Beauty’, ‘Skyfall’) and Pippa Harris (‘Revolutionary Road’), both from Neal Street Productions.
The third season will begin shooting in Dublin later this year and will screen on Sky Atlantic in 2016.