Executive producer Carlton Cuse has announced on Twitter that Sean Astin (“The Lord of the Rings“) has joined the cast of FX’s “The Strain,” the pilot based on the best-selling vampire novel trilogy from Guillermo del Toro and author Chuck Hogan. Astin joins the previously-announced Corey Stoll, Kevin Durand, Mia Maestro, Richard Sammel, Lauren Lee Smith, Jonathan Hyde, Miguel Gomez, and 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. When Eph realizes that this isn’t some new bioterror weapon, but something much older, something outside the reach of science, he teams with Abraham to fight back. As a plague of hungry and intelligent predators overwhelms New York, Eph, Abraham and a motley crew of everyday New Yorkers form a ragtag resistance – fighting monsters in the streets and in their homes, waging a war for the fate of humanity itself.
Del Toro and Hogan will co-write the pilot script for “The Strain,” with del Toro attached to direct. Carlton Cuse (“LOST,” “Bates Motel“) will oversee the series with del Toro. Cuse will serve as showrunner if the pilot goes to series. Hogan and Gary Ungar will also serve as Executive Producers.
