Sean Astin Joins Corey Stoll in Guillermo Del Toro's THE STRAIN Pilot on FX

Carlton Cuse, showrunner for THE STRAIN, announced today on Twitter that Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings) will be joining the FX drama pilot, based on the best-selling vampire novel trilogy from Academy Award-winning filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro and author Chuck Hogan. Astin joins previously announced star Corey Stoll (House of Cards), along with John Hurt, Jonathan Hyde, Kevin Durand and more.

The Strain is a one-hour high concept thriller that tells the story of Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Stoll), 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.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Astin will play Jim Kent, a political operative of the Canary Group and best friend to Goodweather and Nora (Mia Maestro), who is blackmailed into releasing a CDC cabinet containing a potentially deadly virus. It turns out Kent has been embezzling CDC funds to pay for IVF treatments for himself and his girlfriend.

Del Toro and Hogan are co-writing the pilot script, with del Toro attached to direct. Award-winning writer and producer Cuse (Lost, Bates Motel) will be an executive producer and oversee the series with Del Toro. Hogan and Gary Ungar will also serve as executive producers. FX Productions will produce. A writing staff has reportedly already been selected, and FX has ordered more scripts beyond the pilot -- both good signs for a series pick-up.

Astin is currently filming the TV movie The Surgeon General. His next projects include Ribbit, Out West, The Dramatics, Extraction, The Freemason, Mom's Night Out, Cabin Fever: Patient Zero, Napa and Reaching from Above. Other TV credits include a voice part in Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, as well as Alphas, Franklin & Bash, Special Agent Oso, NCIS and more.