Timothy Dalton is making a triumphant return to television. The former James Bond, who also had recurring roles on Chuck and two appearances on Doctor Who, will now appear on Showtime's eight-episode series Penny Dreadful, TVLine reports. Dalton's character Sir Malcom is described as "a hardened African explorer on a deeply personal quest."

Penny Dreadful is taking the mash-up approach to Victorian literature, creating a world that combines elements from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Bram Stoker's Dracula and Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray with original elements created by Skyfall co-writers Sam Mendes and John Logan. Juan Antonio Bayona (The Impossible, The Orphanage) is directing.

The series was announced in November, but officially named earlier this year. Dalton will join Josh Hartnett and Eva Green, who were the first stars revealed last month.