On CBS' "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," George Eads spends his time examining victims who were unable to cheat death. In an upcoming TNT biopic, Eads will cheat death repeatedly, playing daredevil Evel Knievel.

Creatively titled "Evel Knievel," the pic comes from Mel Gibson's Icon Prods. Gibson will executive produce along with Icon partner Bruce Davey as well as Michael Jaffe, Howard Braunstein and Jan Korbelin. Jason Horwitch ("The Pentagon Papers") wrote the script, which is based on the book "Evel Incarnate: The Life and Legend of Evel Knievel" by Steve Mandich.

"Evel Knievel is that rare larger-than-life character from which good film biographies are made," says TNT original movie guru Michael Wright. "I grew up, like a lot of other kids in the '70s, thinking Evel Knievel was the coolest guy on the planet. Now, after going through the development process with this project, I see him as a fascinating and complex character, a guy with an admirable streak of self-confidence, determination and pure grit."

Before landing the part on "CSI," Eads appeared on "Savannah" and "Grapevine" and also did a stint on "ER."

"George Eads is a charismatic, vibrant guy, and we think he's going to make a lot of noise with his performance," Wright adds. "Jason's script follows the story from Knievel's childhood in a copper-mining town to the often life-threatening, bone-crushing results of his stunts."

Production on "Evel Knievel" is set to begin in April.