Daniel Craig has a new mission. The current star of the James Bond films has signed on for the English-language remake of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo."

Distributor Sony Pictures confirmed that Craig is taking on the role of journalist Mikael Blomkvist in the thriller based on the first novel in the best-selling series from the late Swedish author Stieg Larsson, the Associated Press reports.

The violent story teams Blomkvist with the title character, Lisbeth Salander, a deeply troubled genius tormented by a terrible childhood, as they delve into the mystery of a missing girl whose disappearance leads them to a string of decades-old murders.

The role of Lisbeth has not yet been cast.

Directed by David Fincher, the film is due in theaters next year.

TV host and zookeeper Jack Hanna says he took his own advice and used pepper spray on grizzlies headed toward him.

The Columbus Zoo keeper and frequent David Letterman guest says he was with his wife and other hikers in Montana's Glacier National Park on Saturday when they saw the mother bear and two large cubs coming toward them. Hanna and the others moved slowly back up the trail to a clearing and stood still while the mother and one cub passed by, the Associated Press reports.

Hanna says the other cub, weighing about 125 pounds, charged toward the hikers. Hanna sprayed the bear in the face, and it fled. Hanna had recently filmed a message for the National Park Service encouraging hikers to carry pepper spray.

This year's crop of celebrity hoofers on "Dancing With the Stars" have stayed so close since the end of season 10 that they're even planning a big reunion dinner in Los Angeles in three weeks. All were invited, save for one: Kate Gosselin, Popeater's Rob Shuter reports.

"Her invite must have gotten lost in the mail," one "Dancing" insider says. "Of course she was not invited! We all became close during and after the show except Kate who hasn't returned anyone's calls or e-mails. You know it's bad when even creepy bachelor, Jake Pavelka, gets invited but she doesn't."

Now granted, Kate might be a little busy with her eight children, two shows and new best friend Sarah Palin (they're going camping!), but she couldn't return an e-mail saying "Thanks, but no thanks?"

"Kate has not spoken with anyone on the show since the day she left," insiders say. "Even her dance partner, Tony, who spent hours and hours alone with her hasn't heard a word from her."

So while Pam Anderson, Evan Lysacek and Erin Andrews and winner Nicole Scherzinger all chow down on some great food, wine and memories, someone warn Sarah Palin not to get too attached. Her new best friend Kate might not be returning calls once the camera is off.

Disney teen star Selena Gomez has canceled appearances at state fairs in Delaware and Ohio because of strained vocal cords.

Gomez, who stars in the Disney show "Wizards of Waverly Place," issued a statement saying she was disappointed she had to cancel the shows. Gomez also has the starring role in the film "Ramona and Beezus," which is currently in theaters.

A cardiologist who is treating Al Jarreau says the Grammy-winning singer's health is improving.

Dr. Jean-Louis Bonnet, chief of the cardiology unit at La Timone hospital in Marseille, says "everything's going well" and that Jarreau's "state of health is coming along quite normally."

Bonnet said Tuesday the singer could possibly be discharged over the weekend and could then continue his scheduled European concert tour.

Jarreau, 70, was hospitalized in the Alps on Friday after suffering breathing problems in the mountains that forced him to cancel several concerts. He was moved to Marseille by helicopter Saturday.

The Queen of Soul and a former U.S. secretary of state were slated to pair in a rare joint concert in Philadelphia to raise money for inner-city youth.

The Aretha Franklin-Condoleezza Rice extravaganza scheduled Tuesday night promised Rice on the piano to accompany Franklin's "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" and "I Say a Little Prayer." Rice, who is trained as a classical pianist, was also to perform Mozart's piano concerto in D Minor with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

And Franklin was to include songs from her new album "A Woman Falling Out of Love," to be released later this year.

Their aim is to raise money for children from Detroit and Philadelphia, as well as awareness for music and the arts.

Mackenzie Carpenter's video program, "Omnivore," is available exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.