Eric Johnson Scores the Lead in Flash Gordon

Best known for his role as football golden boy Whitney Fordman on "Smallville," Canadian actor Eric Johnson has been cast in the title role of hero "Flash Gordon" on Sci Fi’s series set to begin filming May 1, according to Sci Fi Wire. The first two episodes of the 22 episodes ordered were written by Peter Hume and will be directed by another name you might recognize from "Smallville," Rick Rosenthal.

Johnson starred on "Smallville" for its first season and then his character was killed off, but returned through a shapeshifter in the second season and a flashback in the fourth. He starred in the film "Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed" and appeared on episodes of "The Unit," "The Ghost Whisperer," and "The Dead Zone." Rosenthal recently directed an episode of "The Dresden Files" called "Bad Blood" for Sci Fi.

Knowing Johnson from his work on "Smallville" mostly, I have to say I believe he’s well cast as Flash Gordon. He’s got the look, the talent, and the potential, and as far as I’m concerned, this bodes well for the series.