Carrie Underwood scores movie debut in ‘Soul Surfer’

[HMG] – Ever since Richard Dreyfus scared half the planet in Jaws back in ’75, movie studios have loved the idea of making money with sharks. And now Dennis Quaid, Carrie Underwood and Helen Hunt are joining the trail.

Making her big-screen debut, Carrie, 26, joins the others to star in ‘Soul Surfer,’ a new independent production based on the life story of teen-surfing champion Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm to a 14ft Tiger shark when she was only 13 but went on to win gold in professional contests – Scoring her first win just 19-months later.

AnnaSophia Robb [who starred as Violet Beauregarde  in Johnny Depp's 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'] has been cast as Beth, Dennis and Helen will be her parents, and Carrie will appear as a youth leader at Bethany’s church.

Sean McNamara [a producer on 'That's So Raven'] co-wrote and will direct the new flick, and Carrie will now join the cast in Hawaii to start production this week. Variety lists no date for release, but we’ll let you know.

Meantime, good luck with getting the sound of that cello out of your head…