UKTV’s popular pay channel, Watch, has announced its latest international signing – Guillermo del Toro’s The Strain.
The thirteen-part high-concept series is based on del Toro and award-winning author Chuck Hogan’s best-selling vampire novel trilogy and follows the lethal outbreak of a virus linked to ancient vampires.
Carlton Cuse (Lost) will serve as Executive Producer/showrunner and writer on the series.
The ensemble cast stars Corey Stoll, David Bradley, Mia Maestro, Sean Astin, Kevin Durand, Natalie Brown, Jonathan Hyde, Richard Sammel, Jack Kesy, Ben Hyland, and Miguel Gomez.
Watch has made a number of recent major acquisitions, including Alfonso Cuarón’s Believe and Almost Human, and earlier this week announced it had secured the rights to ABC’s Resurrection.
Catherine Mackin, UKTV’s Director of Acquisitions, said: “The Strain feels totally fresh in the horror/fantasy genre – forget everything you’ve seen about vampires, as this series will turn it on its head and leave you spinning.
“It has a rich heritage of writing talent combined with stunning visuals and outstanding acting and we can’t wait to bring this exciting and epic series to Watch. We are also delighted to be extending our relationship with Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution and bringing more quality drama to the UK.”
Steve Cornish, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution said: “Watch viewers had better prepare themselves for The Strain. Guillermo, Chuck and Carlton have really created a stunning and terrifying piece of television. The show definitely raises the bar for horror and fantasy on TV.”
The series is produced by FX Productions and will premiere in America on 13 July and on Watch in the UK in the autumn.