Showtime is bringing back one of its “Penny Dreadful” actors for its upcoming spinoff, “City of Angels.”
Rory Kinnear, who played Frankenstein’s Monster on the original “Penny Dreadful,” will play Dr. Peter Craft, a successful German pediatrician and the head of the German-American Bund, an organization he hopes will keep the United States isolated from the growing threat of war in Europe.
“City of Angels” is described by Showtime as a “spiritual descendant” of the original series. When a grisly murder shocks the city, Detective Tiago Vega (Daniel Zovatto) is embroiled in an epic story that reflects the rich history of Los Angeles — from the building of the city’s first freeways and its deep traditions of Mexican-American folklore, to the dangerous espionage actions of the Third Reich and the rise of radio evangelism.
Along with Zovatto, the series stars Nathan Lane, Natalie Dormer, Adriana Barraza, Jessica Garza and Johnathan Nieves.
John Logan, the creator, writer and executive producer of “Penny Dreadful,” will return for “City of Angels.” Michael Aguilar (“Kidding”), Oscar-winner Sam Mendes (“American Beauty”, “Skyfall”) and Pippa Harris (“Revolutionary Road”) will also serve as executive producers. Production on the drama is expected to begin later this year.
The series will move its production from Ireland — the original “Penny Dreadful” was set in Victorian-era London — to Los Angeles, bagging a whopping $24.7 million in tax credits as part of the state’s ongoing Film & TV Tax Credit 2.0 program.