Washington, Sept 26 (ANI): Director Guillermo del Toro has inked a publishing deal to pen a trilogy of vampire novels with crime author Chuck Hogan.

The 43-year-old, best known for making Pans Labyrinth, Hellboy and The Devil’’s Backbone, said that the trilogy would advance in “unexpected ways”.

The first book, The Strain, will be released next summer.

Story will revolve around an invasion of New York City by a vampiric virus, reports Variety.

Series will trace the roots of the vampiric race back to its Old Testament origins.

The books will be published by HarperCollins in the U.K., and a special edition will be published simultaneously by the company’’s Spanish-language imprint, Rayo, in the U.S.

Del Toro is currently readying to direct New Line and MGM’’s “The Hobbit,” to which he has committed the next five years. (ANI)