Update! Guillermo Del Toro’s The Strain renewed for a second season

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

UPDATE: FX has officially renewed “The Strain” with a press release. Read it in full below the original text.

The bloodsucking won’t stop when “The Strain” concludes this season. FX has decided it will renew the Guillermo del Toro-created horror series, with production expected to commence in mid-November in Toronto. It will most likely premiere next July.

The series has been performing well for FX, averaging a little over 2 million viewers per episode. That’s down some from the 3 million-plus that tuned in for the series premiere, but still a steady enough audience to warrant another season. And as the series is based on a trilogy of books penned by del Toro and Chuck Hogan, there’s plenty of material to mine.

The Strain is a 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.

If you haven’t been keeping pace with our reviews of “The Strain,” catch up right HERE.

FX has ordered a 13-episode second season of its newest hit drama series The Strain from Guillermo del Toro and Carlton Cuse, it was announced today by John Landgraf, CEO, FX Networks and FX Productions. Season 2 of The Strain is scheduled to debut in the summer of 2015. There are seven all-new episodes remaining in Season 1 airing Sundays at 10 PM ET/PT on FX.

The Strain marks the first time FX has aired an original series on Sunday night and the move has shown its mettle, ranking as the #1 new series on cable (broadcast or premium) in 2014 in delivery of Adults 18-49. The series also recorded the most-watched series premiere in FX history with 12.7 million Total Viewers, which surpassed the network’s initial projection of 10 million Total Viewers. The Strain is the first drama series produced solely by FXP (FX Productions).

Due to the popularity of the show, Fox Home Entertainment will release Season 1 of The Strain on DVD and Blu-ray™ everywhere on December 2.

“We’ve never had any doubts about The Strain,” said 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. 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.”

On a weekly basis, the critically acclaimed series is averaging 11 million Total Viewers and 5.2 million Adults 18-49 inclusive of VOD and online viewing (most current and will increase with the accumulation of more data). 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.

“I am thrilled! Another season to spread the virus!” said del Toro, who directed the pilot and co-wrote the best-selling books The Strain with Chuck Hogan. “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 said, “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.”

The first six episodes of The Strain are currently available on FX’s VOD platform FXNOW for authenticated subscribers of the network, and future episodes will be available after they air on FX.

In next week’s 7th episode, “For Services Rendered” (airs this Sunday, August 24 at 10:00 PM ET/PT), Setrakian, Eph, and Nora formulate a plan to track down the Master using Jim as bait. Eichhorst and Setrakian’s pasts are revealed. At the Luss home, Neeva struggles to protect the children while encountering a mysterious stranger whose help she may not want. Teleplay by Bradley Thompson & David Weddle; directed by Charlotte Sieling.

The Strain is a high concept thriller from Co-Creators, Executive Producers and Writers Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan. The series, starring Corey Stoll, David Bradley, Mia Maestro, Sean Astin, Kevin Durand, Natalie Brown, Jonathan Hyde, Richard Sammel, Jack Kesy, Ben Hyland and Miguel Gomez, tells the story of “Dr. Ephraim Goodweather” (Stoll), the head of the Center for Disease Control Canary Team in New York City. Goodweather 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. Emmy® Award winning Writer and Producer Carlton Cuse serves as Executive Producer, Showrunner and Writer. Guillermo del Toro is Executive Producer and he Directed the Pilot episode. Chuck Hogan is Executive Producer and Writer. Gary Ungar also serves as Executive Producer.