Bennett Miller in Talks to Direct Moneyball

It seems Brad Pitt's troubled new project may have found itself a new director. Apparently Bennett Miller is in negotiations to direct Moneyball.

Steven Soderbergh was originally slated to direct the film before leaving the project and the production had been seeking a new director for the last few months now. Miller was one of the front-runners to direct, along with 500 Days of Summer director Marc Webb.

Miller would direct from a script by Steven Zallian and Aaron Sorkin, based off Michael Lewis' best-selling book. The film tells the story of eclectic Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane, who employed a unique computer scouting system dubbed Moneyball to put together a team that was both cost-efficient and effective on the field as well.

Bureau Headlines: Thursday 12/03

BUREAU HEADLINES: Taylor Swift, Beyonce top Grammy nominations.... British PM Gordon Brown mistakes Reese Witherspoon for Renee Zellweger... Natalie Portman says she didn't touch pot until her 20s... Rupert Everett warns gay actors to stay in the closet... "Family Ties" mom Meredith Baxter must've missed that bulletin... Michael Lohan deposed in TLC's suit vs. Jon Gosselin... Will Smith puts brakes on "Hancock" sequel... Alana Stewart claims to speak to dead Farrah Fawcett in psychic TV special.

CRIME WATCH: Alleged celebrity burglars plead not guilty... Roman Polanski set to begin house arrest Friday... Restraining order against Verne Troyer dropped.

PHOTOS: George Clooney girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis thongs it up for magazine cover (NSFW)... Lady Gaga glams up for Elle cover... David Duchovny and Tea Leoni step out together... Helen Hunt, bikini -- you decide.

GOSSIP: Elin Nordegren getting prenup rewrite, payoff?; supposed third woman surfaces.

GE and Comcast Merge to Control NBC Universal

What was made public earlier this week has now been made official: General Electric is shifting control of NBC Universal to Comcast in a $30 billion agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will form a joint venture, where Comcast will end up controlling 51% percent of the newly formed company while GE will own 49% percent.

The joint venture is valued at $30 billion dollars, with GE contributing its cable networks, filmed entertainment, televised entertainment, theme parks, and unconsolidated investments. Comcast will contribute its cable networks including E!, Versus and the Golf Channel, ten regional sports networks, and certain digital media properties, collectively valued at $7.25 billion. Additionally, Comcast will pay GE approximately $6.5 billion in cash.

Justin Timberlake in The Social Network

We have the first photo of Justin Timberlake in David Fincher's The Social Network, co-starring Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield.

Based on Ben Mezrich's book "The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, a Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal", The Social Network tells the story of the creation of Facebook. Timberlake plays internet entrepreneur Sean Parker, the co-founder of Napster), who began informally advising Mark Zuckerberg (played in the film by Jesse Eisenberg), the co-creator of Facebook, and later became its president when the company incorporated in 2004.

The film has a rumored budget of $47 million. The screenplay was written by Aaron Sorkin.