FX Renews Guillermo del Toro’s Vampire Drama “The Strain,” Starring Maestro, for a Second Season

Posted on August 20, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Mia Maestro is ready to strain herself for another season…

FX has given its new vampire drama The Strain, starring the 36-year-old Argentine actress and singer-songwriter, a long-expected 13-episode order for a second season to air in 2015.

The announcement comes only six weeks into The Strain’s 13-episode freshman run.

Maestro portrays Dr. Nora Martinez on the series from Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and Carlton Cuse.

The Strain, the first FX original series to air on Sunday night, tells the story of Dr. Ephraim Goodweather, 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. As the strain spreads, Eph, his team, and an assembly of everyday New Yorkers, wage war for the fate of humanity itself.

The series’ premiere drew 4.73 million total viewers and 2.43 million adults 18-49 in Live+Same Day. With Live+7 data, VOD, digital and electronic purchases, that number tripled to 12.7 million viewers to become the network’s highest-rated series premiere ever. The horror drama also ranks as the No. 1 new series on cable (broadcast or premium) in 2014 in delivery of adults 18-49.

“We’ve never had any doubts about The Strain,” said FX CEO John Landgraf. “Working with Guillermo del Toro, Carlton Cuse, and the brilliant cast led by Corey Stoll has been everything we had hoped it would be and more.”

On a weekly basis, The Strain, from FX Productions, is averaging 11 million total viewers and 5.2 million adults 18-49 inclusive of VOD and online viewing (most current).

On a first-run-only Live+7 basis, the series is averaging 4.5 million total viewers and 2.6 million adults 18-49. The Strain’s 1.2 million adults 18-34 (first-run L+7) places it in a tie for the top spot in that demo among all new cable series to launch in 2014.

Gomez to Star Opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in the Boxing Feature “Southpaw”

Posted on June 7, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Miguel Gomez is about to hit the ring for his latest project…

The Latino actor has landed a role in the Antoine Fuqua-directed boxing feature Southpaw.

Written by Kurt Sutter, the film stars Jake Gyllenhaal as an up-and-coming fighter who loses everything in a moment of rage and has to start from the bottom to get his life back.

Gomez will play his boxing rival Miguel “Magic” Cantu.

His credits include Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming drama series The Strain, FX’s Louie and The Domino Effect, and the feature films Bless Me, Ultima and Pacific Standard Time.

FX Releases Teaser Clip for del Toro’s Vampire Drama “The Strain”

Posted on December 3, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It appears that Guillermo del Toro’s latest project is going to the rats…

FX has released a cryptic viral video for the 49-year-old Mexican filmmaker’s upcoming vampire drama for the network The Strain.

The clip, which features a massive rat infestation in New York City, debuted during the midseason finale of AMC‘s The Walking Dead. The handheld footage features rats heading into a sewer and inside what appears to be a courthouse before ending abruptly.

FX declined to comment on the promo — posted to YouTube by a fan site — The Hollywood Reporter sources say the mysterious spot is definitely the first promo for del Toro’s drama.

The series centers on a vampire virus that infects New York and the CDC doctor, Ephraim “Eph” Goodweather (Corey Stoll), who investigates the case. Goodweather, the head of the CDC’s Canary Team in New York, is called upon to investigate a viral outbreak connected to an evil strain of vampirism. As the strain spreads, Eph will lead a team of New Yorkers as it wages a war and defends humanity.

del Toro and Chuck Hogan, who co-wrote the three-book series on which the show is based, co-penned the pilot, with Bates Motel‘s Carlton Cuse serving as showrunner.

del Toro directed the pilot, which hails from FX Productions.

The Strain debuts next July.

FX Orders 13-Episode Season of del Toro’s Vampire Series “The Strain”

Posted on November 20, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Guillermo del Toro’s latest television project will most certainly be getting airtime…

The 49-year-old Mexican filmmaker’s The Strain, which is based on del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s vampire novel trilogy, has received a series pick up at FX with a 13-episode order.

The Strain is a high-concept thriller that tells the story of Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Corey Stoll), the head of the Centers for Disease Control Canary Team in New York City. He and his team are called on to investigate a mysterious viral outbreak with hallmarks of an ancient and evil strain of vampirism. As the strain spreads, Eph, his team, and an assembly of everyday New Yorkers wage war for the fate of humanity.

The cast includes Mia Maestro, Sean Astin, Kevin Durand, Natalie Brown, Jonathan Hyde, Richard Sammel, Robert Maillet, Jack Kesy, Ben Hyland and Miguel Gomez.

“This is an epic story with stunning visuals and remarkable acting,” said FX’s Eric Schrier and Nick Grad. “The Strain totally re-imagines and re-invents the genre.”

FX had landed the project in a bidding war months ago, hiring a full writing staff and committing $500,000 to creature creation.

The Strain will now head into production on its first season, with the majority of the show’s scripts already completed.

There’s also a major casting change… The role of Professor Abraham Setrakian, played in the pilot by John Hurt, is being recast.

Filming is slated to begin this month in Toronto for a July premiere.

FX’s plans to run for 39-65 episodes for the series.

Barraza Joining George Lopez in FX’s Sitcom “Saint George”

Posted on July 24, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Adriana Barraza has landed a saintly project…

The 57-year-old Mexican actress, who earned an Oscar nomination for her heart-wrenching role as Mexican nanny Amelia in the Brad Pitt-starrer Babel, will co-star opposite George Lopez in Saint George, FX’s upcoming 10-90 sitcom from Lionsgate TV and Debmar-Mercury.

Created and co-written by Matt Williams, David McFadzean and Lopez, Saint George revolves around the chaotic life of a recently divorced working class Mexican-American turned successful entrepreneur (portrayed Lopez), who struggles to balance his demanding ex-wife, his 11-year-old son, his overbearing mother (Barraza) who just moved in, and his uncle. If that isn’t enough, he also has to deal with his new role teaching history once a week at a night school.

Barraza, also recently booked a recurring arc on Guillermo Del Toro’s FX drama The Strain, starring Mia Maestro.

In her native Mexico, Barraza is best known for her role in Amores Perros. Her other credits include Henry Poole Is Here, Drag Me to Hell, Spanglish, From Prada to Nada and Thor.

Maestro to Star in Guillermo del Toro’s FX Drama Pilot “The Strain”

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Mia Maestro will be feeling the strain of Hollywood…

The 34-year-old Argentine actress and singer-songwriter has signed on to star opposite Corey Stoll in Guillermo del Toro’s FX drama pilot The Strain.

A television adaptation of del Toro’s vampire novel trilogy, The Strain is being eyed for a 13-episode series pickup.

The high-concept thriller tells the story of Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (portrayed by Stoll), the head of the Centers 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.

Maestro will portray Dr. Nora Martinez, who works so closely with Ephraim, they finish each other’s sentences and stumble into an affair. A brilliant biochemist, Martinez cares more about people than the diseases that threaten them, but she will soon be forced to embrace a new identity as a ruthless warrior.

del Toro will direct the pilot from a script he co-wrote with Chuck Hogan, who also co-authored the books with del Toro.

This marks a return to series television Maestro, who previously starred in the Jennifer Garner series Alias.

The The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn actress will next be seen in starring in the indie Some Girls, which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival.

del Toro Casts the Leading Men for His FX Drama Project “The Strain”

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Guillermo del Toro has found the leading men for his sizzling drama project for FX…

Lost actor Kevin Durand will star opposite Corey Stoll in The Strain, from the 48-year-old Mexican filmmaker and former Lost co-showrunner Carlton Cuse.

del Toro will direct the pilot from a script he co-wrote with Chuck Hogan based on the pair’s vampire novel trilogy.

The Strain is described as a high-concept thriller that tells the story of Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Stoll), the head of the Centers 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.

Durand will play Vasily Fet, a second-generation Ukrainian-American and rat exterminator by trade, enthusiastically joins the war against the vampires who have invaded New York. Under the mentorship of a wizened vampire hunter from Eastern Europe, Fet discovers his once solitary life now has vitality and meaning.

The Strain continues gaining traction at the network.

del Toro’s “The Strain” Project Heating Up at FX

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Move over Stephenie Meyer and Alan Ball! Guillermo del Toro could become the new vampire king…

The 48-year-old Mexican filmmaker’s television project The Strain is still alive at FX and it’s gaining traction.

During the network’s recent upfront presentation in New York, FX president John Landgraf showcased the high-profile drama pilot, which is based on del Toro’s books.

Landgraf said The Strain “will reinvent the vampire horror genre.”

The series has a full writing staff in place and they’re working on first-season scripts in anticipation of a series pickup.

The show, if it gets the green light, would air in 2014.

del Toro to Produce New Film Version of “The Secret Garden”

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Guillermo del Toro’s Secret project apparently has Universal appeal…

The 48-year-old Mexican filmmaker’s latest project as a producer, a new film version of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel The Secret Garden, has been acquired by Universal Pictures.

The film’s script will be written by Lucy Alibar, who earned an Oscar-nomination for co-writing Beasts Of The Southern Wild. She’s expected to work closely with del Toro on the script.

In The Secret Garden, an orphaned girl is sent to live with her reclusive uncle and discovers a hidden garden containing magical secrets. This project will take on its own original path from other stage and screen adaptations seen in recent years. Rumor has it the film will be set in the American South at the turn of the 20th Century.

The last major adaptation of The Secret Garden was the 1993 Agnieska Holland-directed film for Warner Bros.

There had been a lot of interest in the project with the hope that del Toro would direct, but he’s so been too busy with his other projects, including preparing to release his latest film Pacific Rim this summer and working on a sequel, developing his critically acclaimed film Pan’s Labyrinth into a stage musical, and helming the haunted house film Crimson Peak. In addition, he’s set to direct the pilot for an FX series adaptation of The Strain, the apocalyptic vampire novel.

Bichir’s Border Drama “The Bridge” May Be Added to FX’s 2013 Lineup

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Demián Bichir could be crossing the bridge into the world of primetime television…

Last October, the 49-year-old Mexican actor signed on to star in FX’s U.S./Mexico borderdrama pilot The Bridge, helmed by noted Mexican director Gerardo Naranjo.

FX plans to add a new drama series later this year; and the network’s president John Landgraf hopes The Bridge will be that show after seeing encouraging early footage from the pilot, which was just shot.

The project, an adaptation of the Scandinavian series Bron, centers on two detectives from the United States and Mexico – El Paso Police Homicide Detective Sonya North (Diane Kruger) and Marco Ruiz (Bichir) — who must work together to hunt down a serial killer operating on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Bichir’s character is described as a family man and one of the last good men in a corrupt and apathetic police force that is outgunned by the powerful drug cartels.

Meanwhile, Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro’s vampire drama The Strain could potential air in 2014, according to Landgraf. In anticipation of potential series orders, the network has ordered backup scripts from the project, including putting a small writing staff together.

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