'Penny Dreadful' season 3 premiere spoilers: New season to feature Dr. Jekyll

The cast of Penny Dreadful Showtime

Back in July, it was reported by Entertainment Weekly that "Penny Dreadful" season 3 would be introducing another famous literary character, and many fans speculated that the show would finally showcase either Count Dracula himself or the dual personalities of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. According to a casting report from IGN, the latter has proven to be the true revelation. 

According to the report, Dr. Jekyll will be portrayed by actor Shazad Latif, who is mostly known for his performances on the series "Spooks" and the film "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." However, the extent of Dr. Jekyll's role in the third season of "Penny Dreadful" is still uncertain at this point. 

Dr. Jekyll, from Robert Louis Stevenson's book "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," is a brilliant doctor who develops a formula that turns him into a raging, murderous criminal. By the end of the story, however, it is revealed that Mr. Hyde is a reflection of Dr. Jekyll's true nature and that the monster is a part of his psyche. 

As the novel ends with Jekyll permanently transforming into Hyde, it is possible that the story's beginnings will be explored throughout "Penny Dreadful's" season 3. 

With the introduction of Jekyll and Hyde, it is also safe to assume that "Penny Dreadful" will also introduce lawyer Gabriel John Utterson, although it is possible this character's role may be filled in by Eva Green's Vanessa and Josh Hartnett's Ethan. It is also possible that Jekyll will have a connection to this series' version of Dr. Seward (Patti LuPone). 

According to IGN, Patti LuPone, who portrayed the Cut-Wife in season 2, will be back in season 3 as Dr. Seward. In Bram Stoker's novel "Dracula," Seward was head of an asylum. IGN reports that Seward and Vanessa will be closely tied together in season 3 but it is possible that Seward's expertise may also play a role in Jekyll's story about personality disorders.

"Penny Dreadful" season 3 premieres in 2016. 

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