The new Flash Gordon series for Sci Fi begins shooting in Vancouver next month, and they've found their lead role: Eric Johnson. Most of you will know Johnson from his role as Whitney Fordman on Smallville.

Johnson is not the only one coming to the project from Smallville. Rick Rosenthal, who also helmed episodes of the series, is directing the first two episodes of Flash Gordon, which are being written by Peter Hume (Charmed). Hume is also executive producing along with Robert Halmi Sr. and Robert Halmi Jr., who earlier worked on the Legend of Earthsea miniseries.

The new series is expected to debut sometime in August. Other roles have not yet been cast. Earlier reports on the series claimed it would be lighter in tone than other shows such as Battlestar Galactica, but not quite as campy as earlier versions.