VANCOUVER — Canucks Laura Harris (Dead Like Me, 24) and Peter Howitt (Laws of Attraction, Sliding Doors) have joined the cast of Defying Gravity, along with Israel-born American Eyal Podell (Commander in Chief, Behind Enemy Lines).

They will join previously announced stars Ron Livingston (The Practice, Band of Brothers) and German actress Florentine Lahme (GSG 9 – Die Elite Einheit, Metamorphosis) in the action-adventure about a group of astronauts who undertake a mysterious international space mission.

A co-venture between Omni Film Productions and Fox TV Studios, the 13 x 60 series for CTV, the BBC and Germany’s ProSieben, begins shooting in Vancouver in January.

Omni executive producer Brian Hamilton says there are still a few more key roles to cast for the ensemble relationship drama, the majority of which will be filled by Canadians.

Podell is repped by the Paul Kohner Agency, Howitt is with UTA, and Livingston and Harris are both represented by Endeavor.

Defying Gravity is executive produced by Desperate Housewives‘ Michael Edelstein and showrun by Grey’s Anatomy‘s James Parriott.