Shark Weak: Halle Berry is in talks to star in Dark Tide, an action-thriller written by Amy Sorlie. Berry will play a diving instructor who returns to the ocean after a near-death experience with a great white shark. Hey, remember that time she won an Oscar? [Variety]
Teamwork: Charlotte Gainsbourg has enlisted Beck’s assistance for her new album, IRM, slated for a January 2010 release. Beck began work as a producer but eventually grew into more of a partner, writing songs for Gainsbourg in the studio and co-writing lyrics. If you’re reminded of Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson’s recent double team, note that Yorn was inspired by the collaborations of Brigitte Bardot and Serge Gainsbourg, Charlotte’s father. Full circle! [Billboard]
Bruck Back at NBC: NBC has picked up an untitled procedural from producer Jerry Bruckheimer and writer Jennifer Johnson (Cold Case, Lost), about a unit that ensures fugitive criminals don’t escape the long arm of the law. The Hollywood Reporter puts heavy emphasis on the fact that NBC hasn’t worked with Bruckheimer since 2005, which was before the Ben Silverman era, leading us to wildly theorize that the recently fired Silverman perhaps had some kind of secret, epic beef with Bruckheimer. Oh, please let that be true. [HR]
Louisiana Patient: Michael Ondaatje’s Coming Through Slaughter, optioned in 2006, is moving forward, as Mark Bailey has completed his script adaptation of the novel. The book, set in New Orleans in the early 1900s, tells the story of Buddy Bolden, a legendary cornetist who inspired later jazz greats. Considering that Ondaatje’s The English Patient was the spark for a pretty great Seinfeld subplot, we see good things here as well. [Variety]
So-so Supergroup: P.O.D. guitarist Marcos Curiel has created the band Daylight Division with former Papa Roach drummer Dave Buckner, former Chevelle bassist Joe Loeffler, and singer Lukas Rossi, best known for winning the reality contest Rock Star: Supernova, where he got to form a band with Tommy Lee and Jason Newsted. According to Billboard, Rossi “says the idea of joining another group of credentialed rockers gave him some pause.†But “then he remembered he had nothing else to do,†Billboard did not add. [Billboard]
Gall’s Back: Have you been pining for the prominent, well-shaped eyebrows of Peter Gallagher ever since The O.C. got canceled? USA has the cure — the network’s new show, Covert Affairs, which stars Piper Perabo as a new CIA trainee getting over a boyfriend, will co-star Gallagher. He’ll play “a regal man and former Naval officer who loves a good fight, great Scotch, and a filthy joke.†Now, this definitely sounds even better than Burn Notice. [HR]