[TV] The Strain

[CeeKay]

yep, Chuck Hogan and Guillermo del Toro's series of books has gotten a pilot order from FX.  I hope they pick it up to full series, as I loved the first book (the other two are in my backlog). 

Guillermo del Toro is bringing his vampire novel trilogy The Strain to television as a drama series, which will be run by former Lost co-showrunner Carlton Cuse. In a very competitive situation with multiple cable networks offering major commitments, FX has landed the project, ordering a pilot that will be co-written, directed and executive produced by del Toro. Co-writing the pilot script is Chuck Hogan (Prince Of Thieves), who also co-authored the books with del Toro. Lost alum Cuse will help develop the series and serve as executive producer/showrunner. Like Lost, The Strain is envisioned as having a limited run. Del Toro tells Deadline he believes the books have enough juice to fill three to five seasons of series, and that he would like to helm as many episodes as his feature schedule allows. Del Toro, Cuse and Hogan exec produce with del Toro’s long-time manager/producing partner Gary Ungar.

sounds like they'll be following the books, so the show may only last 4 seasons:

Del Toro feels that the initial book can cover a season, and same with the 2010 follow-up The Fall. The Night Eternal, which concluded the series, can be broken up into two seasons, he said. There are also subplots that didn’t make the book, and he’s leaving room for creative detours that develop in the evolution of the series.

like they say they could flesh out things more and stretch things out a bit, but I kind of like them having a set number of seasons decided beforehand.  there will be less meandering that way.

[Crawley]

Oh nice. Still have to read the 3rd book but did enjoy the first two. Thought the setup was great and that should translate in to TV well. Hopefully they don't cheap out on it. I can see the series getting a pretty decent following.

[hepcat]

I also have read the first two and need to finish the trilogy at some point.  I hope this gets off the ground as I'm a big del Toro fan boy.

[CeeKay]

FX CASTS OSCAR®-NOMINATED ACTOR JOHN HURT IN THE STRAIN

Hurt Joins Previously Announced Corey Stoll, Kevin Durand, Mia Maestro, Richard Sammel, Lauren Lee Smith, Jonathan Hyde and Miguel Gomez as a Series Regular

Del Toro and Chuck Hogan Will Co-Write and Executive Produce Pilot Script with del Toro Set to Direct

Emmy® Award-Winning Writer/Producer Carlton Cuse Also Serves as Executive Producer

Production to Begin in September 2013 in Toronto

Los Angeles, 17, 2013 – FX has cast two-time Academy Award®-nominated actor John Hurt in The Strain, the pilot based on the best-selling vampire novel trilogy from Academy Award®-Winning Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and Author Chuck Hogan. Hurt joins the previously announced Corey Stoll, Kevin Durand, Mia Maestro, Richard Sammel, Lauren Lee Smith, Jonathan Hyde and Miguel Gomez.

Hurt will portray Professor “Abraham Setrakian,” a holocaust survivor who immigrated to the United States after World War II and now runs a pawn shop in Spanish Harlem. As the outbreak spreads, he may be the only one with answers – if anyone will listen.

"I am incredibly happy to be reunited with John, who is one of the greatest actors in the world and one of my favorite people ever,” said del Toro. “Chuck and I always visualized him while writing The Strain novels and he is absolutely perfect for the part!"

John Hurt is a two-time Academy Award-nominee for his indelible performances in The Elephant Man and Midnight Express. In addition to his Oscar nominations, Hurt received numerous BAFTA awards and two Golden Globe® nominations. His numerous other feature film credits include Love and Death on Long Island, Hellboy, V for Vendetta and Alien. He also portrayed Ollivander in the Harry Potter films. On television, he starred in BBC’s The Alan Clark Diaries, The Confession opposite Kiefer Sutherland, and played Warren Christopher in HBO’s Recount.

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. Award-Winning Writer and Producer Carlton Cuse (Lost, Bates Motel) will be an executive producer and 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. FX Productions will produce.

[hepcat]

Yeah, that's a coup.  Hurt is an actor's actor and I always envisioned him while reading the books anyway.