Simon Baker Nabs "Killer" Role

Simon Baker, star of the hit series "The Mentalist," is playing an attorney on the trail of a murderer in "The Killer Inside Me," Michael Winterbottom's adaptation of the Jim Thompson noir classic that stars Casey Affleck.

The story centers on a West Texas sheriff (Affleck) and his downward spiral from bored small-town cop to ruthless, sociopathic murderer. The cast includes Jessica Alba as a prostitute and Kate Hudson as the sheriff's schoolteacher girlfriend.

Baker plays a county attorney trying to expose the sheriff as the killer.

The adaptation was written by Robert Weinbach and John Curran, director of "We Don't Live Here Anymore" and "The Painted Veil."

Baker, a native of Australia, plays a private investigator with psychic abilities on CBS' "Mentalist," a breakout hit of the 2008-09 television season.

Simon Baker Takes Over as TV's Sexiest Man

Aussie hunk Simon Baker has ended Patrick Dempsey's two-year reign as the sexiest man on TV.

Baker's show "The Mentalist" became an instant hit when it debuted last year and now "The Devil Wears Prada" star has toppled Grey's Anatomy doctor Dempsey as TV Guide magazine's most desired actor.

Dempsey was the publication's sexiest man on TV two years in row.

Baker's wife isn't convinced she's married to the sexiest guy on TV. He explains, "My wife said to me this morning, 'I could take a photo of you right now and they might take that title away from you.'"

Also making the new top 10 are David Boreanaz, new dad Matthew Settle and reality TV star Brody Jenner.