Rory Kinnear gets a new role in Penny Dreadful: City of Angels

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Rory Kinnear, who played the Showtime series Penny Dreadful's version of the "Frankenstein's Monster", will be returning for that show's "spiritual descendant" Penny Dreadful: City of Angels… but he's apparently not reprising the role of the Frankenstein creation John Clare. Instead, Kinnear's City of Angels character is named Dr. Peter Craft.

According to a press release, Craft is "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."

Penny Dreadful: City of Angels is set 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 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. This chapter is a bold new vision that will employ all new characters and storylines. 

Even though Penny Dreadful was set in Victorian era London, John Clare could easily still be around to appear in Los Angeles some decades later, since the creature is immortal. It sort of seems like a missed opportunity to have Kinnear play somebody else on the new show. But I'm sure he'll be great as this Craft guy.

Kinnear's City of Angels co-stars will include Daniel Zovatto as Detective Tiago Vega; Johnathan Nieves as Tiago's volatile younger brother Mateo; Jessica Garza as their sister Josefina, who "plays the part of the quiet and overlooked younger sister but possesses a powerful spirit waiting to be unleashed"; Adriana Barraza as Maria Vega, the powerful matriarch of the Vega family who will go to any lengths to protect her children from the supernatural forces invading their lives; Nathan Lane as veteran LAPD officer Lewis Michener; and Natalie Dormer as the demon Magda, "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."

Penny Dreadful creator, writer, and executive producer John Logan continues in those same roles for Penny Dreadful: City of Angels. He had this to say about Kinnear's casting: 

It’s no secret that Rory is one of my favorite actors on the planet, and working with him in the original series was inspiring. So much so that I wrote this part for him, and I’m thrilled he’ll be joining us in the City of Angels." 

Michael Aguilar is also serving as executive producer, as are Sam Mendes and Pippa Harris of Neal Street Productions. James Bagley is co-executive producer. The show is being produced by Logan's Desert Wolf Productions. 

Filming is expected to begin later this year, with Paco Cabezas set to direct multiple episodes.