True Blood, Lost and Ugly Betty star Grant Bowler has been cast as the lead in the new Syfy series Defiance, written and executive produced by Farscape creator Rockne S. O’Bannon.

Set in the near future, Defiance introduces a world where humans and aliens must learn to live together on an exotic new Earth that has been transformed by alien terra-forming machines. Bowler will play Jeb Nolan, a former Marine who lost his wife and child in a war, and is now the lawkeeper in the frontier boomtown, one of the new world’s few oasis of civility and inclusion, in which the series is set.

“Grant’s charismatic charm and his depth as an actor make him the perfect anchor as we build the ensemble for this sweeping adventure series,” Syfy’s president of original content Mark Stern explained. “We’re very excited to have him join us on this incredible journey.”

Defiance is set to begin production in Toronto in April 2012 with Priest‘s Scott Stewart directing. The Syfy series is being developed in tandem with an online video game from Trion.

O’Bannon is also working on his new series Cult for the CW, and talks exclusively to Sci-Fi Bulletin about Defiance here.