So much for a Fight Club reunion: Citing concerns about the script, Brad Pitt has decided not to star alongside Edward Norton in the star-studded political thriller State of Play. Despite discussions with studio heads and director Kevin Macdonald (Last King of Scotland), Pitt's issues with the script could not be resolved and he pulled out altogether, causing those involved to wonder if the project could go forward. Russell Crowe, now in final negotiations to replace Pitt, has apparently "saved" the studio from shutting down the project.
The cast also includes Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright-Penn, and Jason Bateman, though Norton and Crowe will play the two main characters. In the story, based on the British miniseries, Crowe will now play the "political consultant-turned-journalist who heads a newspaper's murder investigation involving a fast-rising politician (Norton)."
Sad! I was so looking forward to seeing Norton and Pitt on screen together again, and I'm not sure if Norton and Crowe will have the same kind of chemistry. What do you think about this casting switcheroo?
I hope there's still a Fight Club reunion in the future.
this should be interesting... its funny that the studio didn't mention how brad labored over he film for 16 months