Guillermo Del Toro’s “The Strain” Gets 13 Episode Order From FX

FX was so happy with Guillermo Del Toro’s pilot for the adaptation of his Vampire novel, The Strain, that they’ve gone ahead and put in an order for a 13 episode first season which will air next July.

Besides coming from the mind of Del Toro, the show has a lot more going for it including a cast that includes: Corey Stoll, John Hurt, Mia Maestro, Sean Astin, and Kevin Durand, and a showrunner in the form of Carlton Cuse.

Here’s the full press release:

Los Angeles, November 19, 2013 – FX has placed a 13-episode order for the drama series The Strain from Academy Award® nominated Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, author Chuck Hogan and writer/producer Carlton Cuse, which is based on the best-selling vampire novel trilogy of the same title written by del Toro and Hogan, it was announced today by Eric Schrier and Nick Grad, the Presidents of Original Programming for FX Networks and FX Productions.

The Strain begins production later this month in Toronto and the series is scheduled to premiere in July of 2014 on FX.

Schrier and Grad said, “We could not be more excited to be moving forward with Guillermo, Carlton and Chuck on The Strain. This is an epic story with stunning visuals and remarkable acting. The Strain totally reimagines and reinvents the genre.”

Co-Creators, Executive Producers and Writers del Toro and Hogan co-wrote the pilot script for The Strain, which was directed by del Toro. Emmy® Award winning Writer and Producer Carlton Cuse (Lost, Bates Motel) will serve as Executive Producer/Showrunner and Writer. Gary Ungar will also serve as Executive Producer. The series is produced by FX Productions.

“The Strain books are near and dear to my heart and now, Chuck and I have the blessing of a partnership with Carlton and FX that holds great promise,” said del Toro. “Working with FX has yielded an amazing experience with total creative freedom and support.”

Cuse added, “Working with visionary filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and the team at FX has been a dream come true for me. Guillermo’s epic, cinematic pilot for The Strain starts a chilling and compelling story that will upend everything you thought you knew about vampires.”

The ensemble cast stars Corey Stoll, Mia Maestro, Sean Astin, Kevin Durand, Natalie Brown, Jonathan Hyde, Richard Sammel, Robert Maillet, Jack Kesy, Ben Hyland, and Miguel Gomez. The producers and FX Productions are recasting the role of “Professor Abraham Setrakian,” which was previously held by John Hurt.

The Strain is a high concept thriller that tells the story of Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Corey Stoll), the head of the Center for Disease Control Canary Team in New York City. He and his team are called upon to investigate a mysterious viral outbreak with hallmarks of an ancient and evil strain of vampirism. As the strain spreads, Eph, his team, and an assembly of everyday New Yorkers, wage war for the fate of humanity itself.

Writer, producer, director and novelist Guillermo del Toro has built his career on bringing fantasy and horror to vivid life. He wrote and directed the dark fairy tale Pan’s Labyrinth, which garnered six Academy Award nominations, including one for del Toro for Best Writing, Original Screenplay. The film went on to win three Oscars. Named by The Hollywood Reporter as a “Master of Horror,” del Toro’s other film credits include Pacific Rim, Hellboy and the upcoming Crimson Peak starring Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Hunnam and Jessica Chastain.

Award-winning author Chuck Hogan co-wrote the apocalyptic vampire trilogy The Strain with del Toro. A New York Times best-selling writer, Hogan won the Hammett Prize for Excellence in crime writing for his book Prince of Thieves: A Novel, which became the basis for the Academy Award-nominated film The Town.

Showrunner Carlton Cuse is an Emmy and Peabody Award winning writer and producer, best known for the acclaimed ABC television series Lost. He was also an Executive Producer and Creator of television series Nash Bridges and The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. In addition to writing and Executive Producing The Strain for FX, he developed and executive produces the A&E drama series, Bates Motel.