Showtime network CEO David Nevins and John Logan, creator of the British-American horror drama TV series “Penny Dreadful,” had already made it clear that the show officially ended after its Season 3 finale in June and it cannot be further stated with the words ‘The End’ before the closing credits.
Logan even went on to explain that “Penny Dreadful” was about how Vanessa Ives, played by Eva Green, lost her faith during the first two and a half seasons before finding her way back at the end of the third season.
She also sacrificed herself in order for the devil not to consume her soul, which is why the ending was made that way, Logan pointed out.
However, fans and critics do not believe Logan in saying that “Penny Dreadful” was only good for three seasons. They think that the show’s poor ratings had something to do with its rather abrupt ending that it actually looked very rushed.
But neither Logan nor Nevins confirmed fans and critics’ assumption, with Nevins even saying that he encouraged Logan to keep the show running for at least one more season but Logan insisted that the story of “Penny Dreadful” is just good for three seasons.
However, both cannot explain the fact that the final two episodes of Season 3 of “Penny Dreadful” were aired back-to-back on the same night as if the network really wanted to get the show off the air fast.
A comics version in the works
While a fourth season of “Penny Dreadful” already looks remote from the standpoints of David Nevins and John Logan, it seems that the rumor mills have given the idea a new lease on life when reports started coming out that a comics version of the TV series is reportedly now in the works.
The materialization of “Penny Dreadful” comics is definitely being taken by fans and critics as a good sign that the show could get a fourth season as well, notes Game & Guide.
Or, it could also be the handiwork of some creative fans to come up with a Season 4 of “Penny Dreadful” in the comic books and when it comes out really well, they can lobby it to Showtime, which might reconsider giving it a go.
Based on the rumored storyline of the speculated comics version of “Penny Dreadful,” Vanessa Ives will be brought back to life and the story would continue from there, reports Jobs & Hire.
It is also possible that the producers have decided to take the comics version as a way of lobbying for a fourth season of “Penny Dreadful” considering that the popular post-apocalyptic horror survival drama TV series “The Walking Dead” on AMC has a comic book version, which it is already using as its main source material.
Some critics also aver that a “Penny Dreadful” comics would not be a guarantee that the TV series would be renewed for a fourth season as well.
Sticking to Logan’s plan
David Nevins confirmed in a recent interview that he was indeed considering giving “Penny Dreadful” a fourth and final season even before it ended during its Season 3 finale in June this year.
However, Nevins soon realized why it’s important to stick with John Logan’s plan of ending the show with just 27 episodes.
Nevins explained the process behind the decision to end “Penny Dreadful” with the death of Eva Green’s beloved character, Vanessa Ives. He disclosed that the death of Vanessa Ives was plotted.
Though many thought that “Penny Dreadful’s” finale was a little abrupt, Showtime thinks that it was a bold and necessary move on Logan’s part. Hence, continuing the series beyond Vanessa’s death and Logan’s initial plan was no longer essential.