A new fanged Robert is coming next year to a theatre screen near you: Robert Sheehan of ‘Love/Hate’ and ‘Misfits’ has been cast as vampire Simon Lewis in the first movie adaptation of fantasy series The Mortal Instruments, the series author, Cassandra Clare, wrote on her Tumblr.

Sheehan will play Simon Lewis, the soon-to-be-blood-sucking Brooklyn best friend of heroine Clary Fray, portrayed by Lily Collins, in the first installment of the series, City of Bones.

Clare wrote on her Tumblr that she’d “wanted him for Simon for ages” and that “his chemistry with Lily and Jamie [Campbell Bower] is off the charts.” Campbell Bower plays Jace, Clary’s love interest.

The film, directed by Harald Zwart of ‘The Karate Kid,’ is planned for release on August 23, 2012.

Sheehan was born in Co Laois. His father was a garda and Sheehan was raised in Ireland.