FX’s adaptation of Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s horror novel The Strain has just added John Hurt to co-lead opposite Corey Stoll and Mia Maestro in the network’s high-profile drama pilot, reports Deadline.

Hurt is the final piece to the puzzle for the show as he’ll portray Professor Abraham Setrakian, a holocaust survivor who immigrated to the U.S. after World War II and now runs a pawn shop in Spanish Harlem. As the outbreak spreads, he may be the only one with answers — if anyone will listen. The Strain was already shaping up quite nicely but now that they’ve landed Hurt to play Setrakian, I think it’s safe to say that we might just have one hell of a show on our hands.

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.

Kevin Durand, Richard Sammel, Lauren Lee Smith, Jonathan Hyde and Miguel Gomez co-star in the project, from FX Prods.

[Written for AITH]