Sean Astin Succumbs to FX's The Strain

Lord of the Rings vet Sean Astin has joined FX’s vampire-tinged drama pilot The Strain.

From Carlton Cuse (Lost, Bates Motel) and big-screen helmer Guillermo del Toro (the Hellboy films, Pan’s Labyrinth), the high-concept thriller stars Corey Stoll (House of Cards) as Dr. Ephraim Goodweather, the head of a Center for Disease Control team in New York City. Unexpectedly, the group is tasked with investigating a mysterious viral outbreak with the hallmarks of an ancient, evil strain of vampirism.

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Astin — whose recent TV credits include Alphas, Franklin & Bash and NCIS — plays a friend and colleague of Stoll’s character and Alias vet Mia Maestro’s leading lady, per The Hollywood Reporter. John Hurt (Merlin) also co-stars.

Cuse first announced the casting news via Twitter.