FX is increasing its horror genre category with announcing on Tuesday (Nov 19th) that it will take on Guillermo Del Toro's 'The Strain'. The television network has ordered 13 episodes of the drama based on based on the best-selling novels of film director del Toro and Chuck Hogan.

Guillermo del Toro
Del Toro is the creator of 'The Strain'

FX has already proven it knows how to showcase a frightening series as it is home to the successful 'American Horror Story' series.

Del Toro had always desired to bring his vampire drama trilogy to the small screen and several cable networks wanted to take the series on, but in September 2012, the Pacific Rim' director settled with FX.

The pilot was directed by its creator, who co-wrote it with Chuck Hogan, and the pair will also serve as executive producers along with the Carleton Cuse, who will also be the series' showrunner.

"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," del Toro said in a statement.

Corey Stoll
Corey Stoll has landed the lead role of 'Dr. Ephraim Goodweather'

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 plot focuses on 'Dr. Ephraim Goodweather', who will be played by Corey Stoll, as he leads a disease control unit team to investigate a plane that landed at JFK airport with no lights on and doors sealed.

There is a virus on board that is "an ancient and evil strain of vampirism" and the team must stop the outbreak before it take over humanity. John Hurt will play 'Professor Abraham Setrakian', a Holocaust survivor now living in New York who may hold the key to ending the virus.

'The Strain' is expected to premiere in July 2014.

John Hurt
John Hurt has been cast as Professor Abraham Setrakian