Del Toro’s Strain gets FX treatment

Feature film director Guillermo del Toro and Lost producer Carlton Cuse are working on a TV adaptation of The Strain, the former’s best-selling vampire novel series.

The TV series, also titled The Strain, will go to air on US cable channel FX in July 2014. FX Productions is attached to create the 13-episode show, which begins shooting with an ensemble cast later this month in Toronto.

Mexican filmmaker Del Toro (Pan’s Labrynth, Pacific Rim) wrote the books with author Chuck Hogan, who is also attached to the TV series as co-creator. Cuse will be showrunner and writer. All three are executive producers along with Gary Ungar for FX Productions.

The Strain is a high concept thriller will follow Corey Stoll as the head of disease control team in New York, who discovers a viral outbreak that appears to bring on vampirism.

This is an epic story with stunning visuals and remarkable acting. The Strain totally reimagines and reinvents the genre,” said Eric Schrier and Nick Grad, presidents, original programming for FX parent FX Networks and FX Productions respectively, in a joint statement.

“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,” added del Toro. “Working with FX has yielded an amazing experience with total creative freedom and support.”