Showtime’s sequel series Penny Dreadful: City of Angels finds a formidable new character in former Game of Thrones player Natalie Dormer. The upcoming series is be hailed as a spiritual successor to creator John Logan’s (Skyfall) original Victorian-era romantic horror series that starred Josh Hartnett, Eva Green, Timothy Dalton, Rory Kinnear, Billie Piper, and Harry Treadaway. That series ran for three seasons before surprising viewers with an abrupt ending that left many wanting more.
Apparently Showtime felt the same, as just a few years removed from the original series’ conclusion, City of Angels will bring the world of Penny Dreadful into the twentieth century and to the United States, with Logan launching a new series set in 1938 Los Angeles, and featuring an entirely new cast. So far, much of the cast centers around series protagonist Tiago Vega (Daniel Zovatto), and includes Tiago’s sister Josefina (Jessica Garza) and his younger brother Mateo (Johnathan Nieves). Now, it also includes Dormer, who, brings a bit of star power along with her.
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In the official announcement from Showtime, Dormer will play Magda, “a supernatural demon who can take the appearance of anyone she chooses and manifests in a number of guises throughout the story. Charismatic, clever and chameleonic, Magda is a dangerous enemy and an invaluable ally.” That description suggests Dormer’s character might be right up her alley, as it’s somewhat reminiscent of her role as Margaery Tyrell in Game of Thrones, as well as her turn as Moriarty in Elementary. You can read a full synopsis of the new series below and see it’s first poster below:
“PENNY DREADFUL: CITY OF ANGELS opens in 1938 Los Angeles, a time and place deeply infused with social and political tension. 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. Before long, Tiago and his family are grappling with powerful forces that threaten to tear them apart. PENNY DREADFUL: CITY OF ANGELS explores an exciting mix of the supernatural and the combustible reality of the period, creating new occult myths and moral dilemmas within a genuine historical backdrop.”
Dormer has stayed busy since her time on Game of Thrones came to an explosive end in the season 6 finale. She’s also starred in the Amazon Prime miniseries adaptation of Picnic at Hanging Rock, as well as feature films In Darkness and Patient Zero. Dormer also has a pre-existing relationship with Showtime, as she starred as Anne Boleyn in the premium cabler’s period drama The Tudors from Vikings creator Michael Hirst. Given all that and her role in The Hunger Games, Dormer looks set to be one of the biggest stars cast in Penny Dreadful: City of Angels.
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Production on Penny Dreadful: City of Angels is expected to begin sometime in 2019.