Del Toro Set To Pen Vampire Novels

The Hellboy director will collaborate with revered crime writer Chuck Hogan on the three tales, with the first - entitled The Strain - due to hit stores next summer (09).

Del Toro says, "The idea is epic in scope. The trilogy advances in unexpected ways and each book contains unique and surprising revelations about the history, physiology and lore of the vampiric race, tracing its roots all the way back to its Old Testament origins."

It is not known whether Del Toro plans to adapt the trilogy for the big screen.