Even darker days will arrive soon on Showtime's Penny Dreadful, although viewers might not think that's even possible, considering the show's already grim nature.
However, a new trailer shows fan favorite characters Vanessa, Ethan and Sir Malcolm diving into creepier depths, with them all admitting that they've already seen unspeakable horrors as they prepare to face more. Most chilling, perhaps, is Vanessa's confession, when she says, "I have been touched by Satan."
The trailer teases things to come, with clips of some of the series' most fascinating creepy literary characters, including Dorian Gray and Frankenstein's monster (although viewers now understand that the real monster is Lily, Frankenstein's third creation). This season also brings a new character from literature to life: Dr. Jekyll, aka Mr. Hyde.
Actress Patti LuPone, who portrayed the Cut-Wife last season, returns to the series in a new role, as Dr. Seward, a therapist intent treating Vanessa, but with a new approach. Another new character on the series is Kaetenay, a Native American with "a deep connection" to Ethan, who also befriends Sir Malcolm.
"Other guest stars include Screen Actors Guild Award nominee Christian Camargo (Dexter, The Hurt Locker) as Dr. Alexander Sweet, a zoologist who strikes up an unlikely friendship with Vanessa; Sam Barnett (2012, Jupiter Ascending) as Dr. Seward's mysterious young secretary; and Jessica Barden (The Outcast, Far from the Madding Crowd) as Justine, a young acolyte to Lily (Billie Piper) and Dorian Gray (Reeve Carney) and Perdita Weeks (The Tudors), as Catriona Hartdegan, a scholar with expert knowledge of the supernatural. Simon Russell Beale returns as Dr. Ferdinand Lyle and Sarah Greene as Hecate. Rory Kinnear (as The Creature) and Harry Treadaway (as Dr. Frankenstein) also star," reads a press statement.
Showtime also unveiled a poster promoting the new season of the series, which is appropriately surreal and spooky:
Penny Dreadful returns to Showtime on May 1 at 10 p.m. EST.
Meanwhile, fans of the series can also get their horror fix by reading Titan's new Penny Dreadful comic book series, with a first issue set to arrive on May 4, just after the series' season three premiere. Krysty Wilson-Cairns serves as writer for the series, with Louie De Martinis providing artwork.
