Mashing up existing stories is all the rage, and Showtime is getting in on the action with new pilot drama Penny Dreadful, which will have Frankenstein, Dracula and more iconic monsters!

EW reports that the Showtime network will be taking a page out of Once Upon a Time and Grimm‘s books and create a new drama series which will see characters from classic stories interact and probably develop in new and unexpected ways.

Set in Victorian London, Penny Dreadful will feature the likes of Dr. Frankenstein, Dorian Gray and Dracula – though the exact format of the show has not yet been revealed.

The series is to be written and executively produced by Gladiator, Aviator and Skyfall screenwriter John Logan. Sam Mendes (director of American Beauty and Skyfall) is also attached to the project as an executive producer and potential director of the pilot episode.

The show’s title Penny Dreadful is derived from the name of a style of 19th century British fiction which was printed in installments and sold for a penny each. There was also a 2006 horror movie by the same name, produced by Lionsgate.

Aside from capitulating on the trend of mashing up classic stories, this series will also be the second in this year’s fall lineup (if it’s picked up by the network for a full season) to feature the character of Dracula – Jonathan Rhys Meyers (The Tudors) is set to star in a new NBC drama of the same name.

And along similar lines, NBC is also developing a drama series based on the serial killer Hannibal Lecter – which will reportedly star Hugh Dancy and Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen.

What do you think about this news? Do you think a monster mashup type show will be a hit, or is it getting to be too much of a good thing?