Actress Patti LuPone's performance as the Cut-Wife in season 2 of "Penny Dreadful" was so spectacular that Showtime confirmed they are bringing her back as a series regular for season 3. However, according to a report from TVLine, she will be portraying an entirely different character.
This time around, she will be playing Dr. Seward, an American therapist who will be assigned to work on Vanessa (Eva Green) but through an unconventional approach. The two actresses showcased phenomenal chemistry in the short amount of screen time they shared in season 2 and it appears that this chemistry will continue to grow in season 3.
One thing of interest is that Dr. Seward is a character from Bram Stoker's novel "Dracula." In the novel, the character is male and is the administrator of an asylum. The character is mostly associated with Dracula-lore, and the feared vampire has been teased several times although he has yet to make an official appearance in the show.
Also coming in season 3 is Dr. Jekyll, to be played by Shazad Latif. The report only cites Dr. Jekyll, although fans of the original stories will recall that wherever there is Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde cannot be too far behind as the characters are one and the same.
Other newcomers in season 3 include Christian Camargo who will play zoologist Dr. Alexander Sweet; Wes Studi as a series-regular playing the character Kaetenay; Sam Barnett as the mysterious young secretary to LuPone's Dr. Seward; and Jessica Barden as Justine, an acolyte to Dorian Gray (Reeve Carney) and Lily (Billie Piper).
The additional cast further implies that season 3 will be a much bigger show than before, as showrunner John Logan told The Hollywood Reporter right around the end of season 2.
"Season 3 is a real change of pace for us, which is good," Logan stated. "We can get out of the alleys and cobblestone bars of Victorian London and see a bit more of the world. Essentially there's a pull bringing these characters together, and it's supernatural, partly romantic, partly shared destiny."
"Penny Dreadful" season 3 premieres in 2016.
