The eight-episode drama focuses on some of literature's famed monsters, including Dr. Frankenstein and his creature as well as characters from Dracula and Dorian Gray. The show combines the classic horror origin stories as the monsters live with their alienation.

Carney will play Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde's handsome and narcissistic protagonist. He joins a cast that includes Timothy Dalton, Josh Hartnett and Eva Green.

Reeve Carney, who plays guitar in the band Carney, was cast as the late singer/songwriter Jeff Buckley in the movie biography "Mystery White Boy." His film credits also include "Snow Falling on Cedars" and "The Tempest."

"Penny Dreadful" was created by three-time Oscar nominee John Logan ("Skyfall"), who will write and executive produce alongside Academy Award winner Sam Mendes and Neal Street's Pippa Harris ("Revolutionary Road"). Juan Antonio Bayona ("The Orphanage," "The Impossible") will direct the first two episodes.

The series will debut in spring 2014.