'Dances With Wolves' Star Joins Syfy's 'Defiance' Drama Series (Exclusive)

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Graham Greene

Syfy's upcoming drama series Defiance has added an Academy Award nominee to its cast.

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Graham Greene, who was a nominated for an Oscar for Dances With Wolves and played a supporting role in the Twilight film New Moon, has been tapped to join the futuristic series, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively.

From Syfy and Trion Worlds, Defiance centers on a transformed Earth, inhabited by the survivors of a universal war. Forced to co-habitate, the group struggles to build a new society among the devastation.

Greene will play Rafe McCawley, a self-made success who owns and operates the largest mine in the territory. His status as the richest and most powerful human in Defiance comes with a price, however, as he struggles to navigate both familial and political alliances in the new world.

He joins previously announced cast members Grant Bowler, Julie Benz, Stephanie Leonidas, Tony Curran and Jaime Murray in the show, which unites scripted TV with massive multiplayer online gaming (MMOG).

The pilot will be directed by Scott Stewart (Legion, Priest) and written/executive produced by Rockne O'Bannon (Farscape), Kevin Murphy (Desperate Housewives) and Michael Tyalor (Battlestar Galactica). Murphy will serve as showrunner. Produced by Universal Cable Productions, filming begins in Toronto in April.

Greene, repped by Jordan & Associates, had a recurring role on Canadian TV series Being Erica. Recent big-screen credits include Man on the Train, Valley of the Sun, Casino Jack and the upcoming Chasing Shakespeare and The Stupidest Angel.