First Teaser Released for Guillermo del Toro's 'The Strain'

We finally get a look at a teaser for Guillermo del Toro's new FX series, "The Strain," but it's pretty brief and only shows the skyline of NYC being ominously darkened. We've covered this show before, most recently in November when we reported that FX ordered 13 episodes of the based-on-the-books vampire show. Also, back in June, we reported that the War Doctor, John Hurt, would be starring in the pilot as professor Abraham Setrakian, a survivor of the Holocaust.

What is "The Strain" about? Because based on the teaser, "Eclipse," we don't really get to see vampires but we do know that vampires like to hang out in the dark. Something is coming...this July.

"The Strain" is a high concept thriller that tells the story of Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Corey 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.



-Larissa Mrykalo

Steven Moffat Discusses Upcoming Season of Doctor Who: Matt Smith Is Doctor 13

Image courtesy of the BBC

"Doctor Who" showrunner, Steven Moffat, has recently announced that the upcoming series 8 will air as one full season. The seventh season of the monstrous BBC hit was split over 2 years, with the first half airing in 2012 and the second in 2013.

The new season is set to air in August 2014, and following his brief appearance in "The Day of the Doctor" and his debut in "The Time of the Doctor," this will mark Peter Capaldi's first full series run as the Doctor.

Moffat also confirmed that Matt Smith is NOT the 11th Doctor, but the 13th and final incarnation instead. Here's where things get a little...wibbly wobbly. According to Moffat, John Hurt's "War Doctor" and David Tennant's "10.2" regenerations cement Smith's status as the 13th Doctor. Moffat clarified, as much as he is wont to do, while speaking with Radio Times the regeneration limits of our favorite Time Lord, stating:

First Images Released Of 'Doctor Who' 50th

Check in and check out these Doctors. The BBC America has released the very first images from the "Doctor Who" 50th Anniversary episode "The Day of the Doctor," premiering Saturday, November 23. The special will be feature length with 75 minutes of adventure, starring Matt Smith, David Tennant, Jenna Coleman with Billie Piper and John Hurt.

In the main pic, we of course see Eleventh, Twelfth and the "other" Doctor Hurt. So this means they do get some hang time in the TARDIS all together. Speaking of hangin, check out the rest of the pics after the jump to see a Doctor hanging from a flying TARDIS, along with a Companion being kept company and some TARDIS control panel shots.

Of course, the long-running series will be broadcast simultaneously to millions of viewers worldwide in a global simulcast and BBC AMERICA will soon announce details of select 3D screenings of the anniversary episode in theatres in the U.S.

-Aaron Sagers

John Hurt to join Guillermo del Toro's vampire FX show 'The Strain'

Oscar-nominated actor -- and Time Lord -- John Hurt (The Elephant Man, The Midnight Express), will be joining the pilot of FX networks The Strain, based on the vampire trilogy by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan.

According to EW, Hurt, 73, will be portraying professor Abraham Setrakian, a survivor of the Holocaust. Del Toro is slated to direct and co-author the pilot episode of the show, and has expressed his enthusiasm about working with Hurt again; the pair previously worked together on del Toro’s 2004 hit, Hellboy. In a recently released statement, del Toro stated:

“I am incredibly happy to be reunited with John, who is one of the greatest actors in the world and one of my favorite people ever [...] Chuck and I always visualized him while writing The Strain novels and he is absolutely perfect for the part!”

If you are unfamiliar with Hurt’s Oscar-nominated performances, you may also recognize him as wand-guru, Mr. Ollivander from the Harry Potter films, or most recently, his surprise television appearance as The Doctor in this seasons finale of Doctor Who. While there has been much speculation that Hurt will in fact be the 12th regeneration, it doesn’t appear to be true, as he is only slated to appear in the upcoming 50th anniversary special. Production on The Strain will begin this September.

-Nowal Massari