Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein re-imagined for ITV

Actor Sean Bean (Game of Thrones, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy) is to lead the cast of ITV’s new drama The Frankenstein Chronicles, a six-part terrifying re-imagining of the Frankenstein myth.

Set in Regency London in 1827, Bean plays Inspector John Marlott. Marlott discovers the body of a dead child is washed up on the shore and on further examination of the corpse he is horrified to discover it’s not actually a child but rather a crude assembly of body parts arranged in a grotesque parody of a human form.

With a formidable reputation as an investigator, he is known as a man who “doesn’t know the meaning of fear,” so it comes as no surprise when coldly efficient Peel, summons him insisting the “details of your investigation must remain confidential.” And after what he’s witnessed Marlott accepts the challenge to track the perpetrator of this heinous crime.

As he investigates, Marlott discovers that what he’s dealing with is more horrific than he could possibly have imagined.

The series is produced by Rainmark Films and created by Emmy nominated director and writer Benjamin Ross (The Young Poisoner’s Handbook) and writer Barry Langford (Torte Bluma).

ITV’s Director of Drama, Steve November says: “The Frankenstein Chronicles is an epic re-working of one of literature and cinema’s most iconic stories. We’re delighted to be working with Benjamin Ross, Barry Langford and the team at Rainmark Films with the vision to bring Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein back to life.”

“Marlott’s investigation takes him into the dark corners of Regency London,” said Benjamin. “He discovers an underworld of prostitution, drug smuggling, bodysnatching, and murder for profit.  The rational evidence points first one-way and then another as he contemplates a frightening alternate scenario.”

Filming on The Frankenstein Chronicles will begin in Northern Ireland in January 2015.