Gothic horror drama series Penny Dreadful continues to be a success for Showtime, so it comes as no surprise that the premium cable network announced today that it has been renewed for a third season comprised of nine episodes.  Creator and showrunner John Logan (Hugo, Spectre) is already hard at work on the next phase of our monstrous heroes’ tale, with production slated to begin once again this fall in Dublin.  The second season, which just aired its seventh episode this past weekend, is set to conclude on July 5th.

Courtesy of Variety…

“John Logan’s brilliant writing and this amazingly talented ensemble continue to draw a passionate, global fanbase into the meticulously crafted world of ‘Penny Dreadful,’” said Showtime Networks president David Nevins. “Together with our wonderful partners at Sky Atlantic, we’re excited to see what new haunts John and his team have in store for season three.”

The order for the third season is an episode shorter than the current run, but I wouldn’t worry.  Many cable genre shows having been cutting back a bit lately, with Cinemax’s Banshee (not horror, but recommended nonetheless!) lopping off two from its usual amount next season and True Blood had shorter orders in later seasons as well.  In many cases, it often leads to tighter storytelling and the budget not being spread out as thinly, which is rarely a bad thing.

What terrors will Season Three hold for Vanessa Ives (Eva Green), Sir Malcolm Murray (Timothy Dalton), Ethan Chandler (Josh Hartnett), Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway), Caliban (Rory Kinnear), Dorian Gray (Reeve Carney), and the rest?  And will the lot I just mentioned even survive long enough to see the start of a third season?  I guess we’ll know come July 5th…