With joy in our hearts we happily report the news that we will be watching New York get overcome with the vampire virus next summer, as FX has picked up Guillermo del Toro‘s novel series and now pilot The Strain for a 13-episode series, with Carlton Cuse on board as showrunner and writer.
Production begins later this month in Toronto with mostly the same cast that we’d reported to you for the pilot. Only John Hurt, about to be seen across the globe as The War Doctor in Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor, will be replaced for the series. He was to play Professor Abraham Setrakian.
Here are all the details. Summer 2014 is looking up.
FX INFECTED BY THE STRAIN
Network Orders 13 Episodes of the Drama Series Based on the Best-Selling Novels by Oscar® Nominee Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan Who Are Executive Producers and Co-Wrote The Pilot Which Was Directed by del Toro
Emmy® Award-Winning Writer/Producer Carlton Cuse Also Serves as Executive Producer, Showrunner and Writer
Series Stars Corey Stoll, Mia Maestro, Sean Astin, Kevin Durand, Natalie Brown, Jonathan Hyde, Richard Sammel, Robert Maillet, Jack Kesy, Ben Hyland and Miguel Gomez
Production to Begin This Month in Toronto and the Series Debuts on FX in July 2014
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.
About FX
FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable channel of FX Networks, a business unit of 21st Century Fox. FX Networks is comprised of FX, FXM, and FXX, its newest channel, which launched in early September 2013. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 98 million homes. The diverse schedule features a growing roster of critically acclaimed and award-winning hit dramas series, including Sons of Anarchy, Justified, The Americans and The Bridge; the miniseries American Horror Story: Coven; and the acclaimed hit comedy series Louie, and Archer. The network’s library of acquired box-office hit movies is unmatched by any ad-supported television network. FX’s roster of acquired hit series includes Two and a Half Men, Anger Management and, coming in 2014, Mike & Molly.ABOUT FX PRODUCTIONS
FX Productions (FXP) produces the critically acclaimed hit comedy series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, Louie, Archer, Wilfred, and Legit, and the drama series The Strain (July 2014). FXP co-produces the award-winning hit drama series Sons of Anarchy and Justified, the critically acclaimed drama The Americans and the upcoming drama series The Bridge. FXP is also producing limited series and miniseries for FX and FOX.
The Strain, starring Corey Stoll, Mia Maestro, Sean Astin, Kevin Durand, Natalie Brown, Jonathan Hyde, Richard Sammel, Robert Maillet, Jack Kesy, Ben Hyland, and Miguel Gomez, premieres July 2014 on FX.
