In Bram Stoker's 1897 novel "Dracula," professor Abraham van Helsing is best known as a vampire hunter and arch nemesis of Count Dracula. In the new TV series from NBC Universal-owned Syfy, the character is reintroduced as a female, Vanessa Helsing.

THR reports that the first season will launch in the fall 2016. LaBute will produce with Simon Barry, Evan Tyler, Dave Brown, Daniel March and Chad Oakes and Mike Frisley for Nomadic Pictures ("Fargo"). Nomadic Pictures will produce the series and distribute it within the U.S.

"I am extremely excited to be working with Syfy and Nomadic Pictures to create a unique, character-driven action series that will move the traditional vampire tropes into bold and unexpected new territories," LaBute said in a statement. "This is a wonderful chance for us to forge great stories and unforgettable characters and throw them into a world where the stakes – both dramatic and personal – are tremendously high."

"Van Helsing" was also adapted into a film in 2004 starring Hugh Jackman as the monster killer.

LaBute, whose play Reasons to be Pretty ran on Broadway in 2009, has numerous TV credits including writer and creator of DirecTV's "Billy & Billie." He wrote and directed the film "Dirty Weekend," starring Matthew Broderick and Alice Eve, which was released in the U.S. Sept. 4, 2015.