FX has ordered a 13-episode second season of its newest hit drama series The Strain from Guillermo del Toro and Carlton Cuse. 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.”
