Victor Frankenstein. Dorian Gray. Mina Harker. What do these infamous literary icons have in common? They are all characters featured in Penny Dreadful, of course.

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The Showtime series nears it's fourth episode this Sunday. The program is deeply rooted in Victorian history, drawing upon the iconic headlines of Jack the Ripper and utilizing characters from famous literary works.

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According the creators in behind the scenes interviews (featured below), Penny Dreadful gives them the opportunity to "rediscover some of the great myths of gothic literature... with all the scale you would lavish on a major motion picture."

Penny Dreadful aims to weave these elements together with original creations; some of the primary characters have in fact been invented specifically for the program. "My part is my own," claims Vanessa Ives (Eva Green) in the premiere, speaking just as much to the audience as she is to Ethan Chandler (Josh Hartnett).

Nonetheless, the key placement of the iconic Victor Frankenstein from Frankenstein and Dorian Gray from The Picture of Dorian Gray in the first few episodes indicates that there may be more to come. Mina Harker from Dracula played a small role in episode two, and it is said that episode four will include no other than Van Helsing.

Characters from the works of Edgar Allan Poe and Ann Radcliffe would certainly fit the tone, though show-runners have yet to confirm who audiences might find later in the season. Followers of the show will just have to keep an eye out and heed the warning of Miss Ives: "There's much we don't know, and must discover."

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Penny Dreadful, Showtime