Sean Astin joins cast of The Strain

Sean Astin has joined the cast of the highly anticipated FX TV show "The Strain," based on the trilogy of novels by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan first published in 2009. Del Toro is slated to direct the pilot, also written by Del Toro and Hogan; Carlton Cuse (Lost, Bates Motel) will be the showrunner. While the show has not yet officially been picked up, a writing staff has already been assembled and additional scripts ordered for the series.

The story centers on a vampire virus that infects New York and the CDC doctor, Ephraim "Eph" Goodweather (House of Cards' Corey Stoll), who investigates the case. Goodweather is the head of the CDC's Canary Team in New York who 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. 

Astin will play Jim Kent. The character is a savvy and trustworthy guy who is an open political operative of the Canary Group and best friends with Goodweather and Nora (Alias' Mia Maestro). He unknowingly betrays their friendship when he is coerced into releasing a cabinet out of quarantine that contains a potentially deadly virus. When asked why, Jim confesses he was embezzling CDC funds to help pay for his and his girlfriend's IVF treatments. Source

The cast also includes John Hurt, Jonathan Hyde, Kevin Durand and more. Filming on the pilot is set to begin mid-September in Toronto and take about 20 days. The show is reportedly planned to be a "three season event series."

For more information, read this or this recent interview with Del Toro, and check out the show's IMDB page.