ATX Television Fest Lines Up FX Premieres

UPDATED: 'Roswell' reunion added; ‘Fargo,’ ‘The Strain’ to close fest

Are vampires ever not trending? FX will test audience appetite for bloodsuckers with new series The Strain this July, but ATX Television Festival attendees get to cast an early vote: The premiere will anchor the fest's closing night programming.

Based on Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s bestselling vampire-horror trilogy, The Strain stars House of Cards’ favorite Corey Stoll as a CDC doctor battling a mysterious virus that threatens to overtake New York, then the world. ATX Television Fest will screen the premiere episode on June 7 at the State Theater, with executive producer Carlton Cuse (Lost) and cast members Sean Astin, Mia Maestro, and Kevin Durand in attendance.

That same night, FX will also present the eighth episode of Fargo, the new limited series inspired by the film (incidentally, it premieres tonight on FX at 9pm); cast member Allison Tolman, creator Noah Hawley, and executive producer Warren Littlefield will be in attendance, and ATX is teasing more to come (please, pretty please, say it’s Martin Freeman).

Martin Freeman in 'Fargo' (courtesy of www.fxnetworks.com)

FX presence at the fest doesn’t stop there: Showrunner Graham Yost and actor Walter Goggins will be repping Justified, while Archer is sending voice talent H. Jon Benjamin, Chris Parnell, and Lucky Yates plus writer/exec. producer Matt Thompson to Austin.

Previously announced programming includes an Everwood reunion, an Orphan Black sneak, and the inaugural Achievement in Television Excellence award for forever-Fonz Henry Winkler.

UPDATED (4:36pm): ATX Television Fest is positively press-release-happy today: Programmers have just announced a Roswell reunion with creator Jason Katims in attendance along with stars Shiri Appleby, Nick Wechsler, and Brendan Fehr. (What, no Heigl?) The WB/UPN teen sci-fi show celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. Also announced is a screening of NBC's new medical drama The Night Shift, which premieres in May.

'Roswell'

The ATX Television Fest runs June 5-8. For more info, visit www.atxfestival.com.

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KEYWORDS FOR THIS POST

ATX Television Festival, ATX Television Fest, The Strain, Fargo, Guillermo del Toro, Chuck Hogan, Carlton Cuse, Archer, Justified, ATX TV Fest 2014

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