FX has ordered a second season of its newest vampire horror-drama series "The Strain," the network announced Tuesday, Aug. 19. The show's second installment will consist of 13 episodes, and is set to premiere in summer 2015.
"The Strain's" Season 2 renewal is expected since the show is cable's top new series of 2014 among adults 18 to 49. It has averaged 4.5 million viewers in first-run airings this season, while its July 13 pilot episode attracted a total of 12.7 million viewers with delayed and repeat viewings included, making it the most-watched TV show premiere in FX's history, according to TV Guide.
Due to the success of the show, the network also announced that Fox Home Entertainment will release first season of the "The Strain" on DVD and Blu-ray on Dec. 2, Cinema Blend reported.
Based on Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan's novel trilogy of the same name, "The Strain" centers on the start of a vampiric outbreak in New York City with Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Corey Stoll), head of the city's Center for Disease Control division, and his team are tasked to investigate the mysterious viral epidemic.
"We've never had any doubts about The Strain," said FX Networks and FX Productions CEO John Landgraf in a statement. "Working with Guillermo del Toro, (executive producer) Carlton Cuse, and the brilliant cast led by Corey Stoll has been everything we had hoped it would be and more. It is thrilling when you have a show that is a creative and commercial hit, which is a rare accomplishment in this increasingly crowded marketplace. We look forward having it on FX for as long as Carlton, Guillermo and Chuck Hogan need to tell this epic tale."
"I am thrilled! Another season to spread the virus!" said del Toro in the press release. "Working with Carlton, Chuck and FX has been immensely rewarding and we have such sights to unveil in the upcoming episodes-the blood hits the fan on this one, mankind becomes an endangered species."
Cuse added, "It's been immensely satisfying over the last year-and-a-half to work with the incredible team at FX, Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan to bring 'The Strain' to life. I am grateful for all the blood, sweat and tears (but mostly blood) given to the project by all involved, and I could not be more excited to continue telling this epic story."
As for those who are wondering when Stoll's Ephraim would meet Kevin Durand's Vasiliy Fet, the 38-year-old "Ant-Man" actor told Variety that the two characters would finally cross each other's path in the show's upcoming episode 8. "We really are forced together under the worst circumstances," he said of the relationship between the two characters.
"The Strain" Season 1 still has seven episodes remaining. The show airs Sundays at 10/9c on FX.
