This summer hasn’t really given us many solid new series debuts, but July is looking promising.  In addition to Damon Lindelof’s HBO show The Leftovers, we have the debut of Guillermo del Toro’s vampire drama The Strain on FX.  Based on the book trilogy by del Toro and Chuck Hogan, the story revolves around a team of scientists who wage war against an ancient strain of virus that confers vampirism, along with those it infects.  Del Toro had a heavy hand in putting the show together, co-writing and directing the pilot and overseeing the writing of the rest of the season before handing off showrunner reins to Lost alum Carlton Cuse.  In this new featurette, the filmmaker explains his “gothic approach to science” as the cast discusses the show’s real-world approach to the idea of vampirism.  Very promising stuff.

Hit the jump to watch the new The Strain featurette. The series stars Corey Stoll, Mia Maestro, Sean Astin, Kevin Durand, Natalie Brown, Jonathan Hyde, Richard Sammel, Robert Maillet, Jack Kesy, Ben Hyland, and Miguel Gomez.  The Strain premieres on FX on July 13th.

Here’s the official synopsis for The Strain:

The Strain is a high concept thriller from Academy Award^® nominated Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, author Chuck Hogan and writer/producer Carlton Cuse, which is based on the best-selling vampire novel trilogy of the same title written by del Toro and Hogan.  It tells the story of “Dr. Ephraim Goodweather,” 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.