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Edward Norton Leaves State of Play, Ben Affleck May Join

BuzzSugar — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:30:24 -0800

Well, my original excitement over a Fight Club reunion with Edward Norton and Brad Pitt starring in State of Play has been dashed. First Pitt dropped out of the project and was replaced by Russell Crowe. Now Norton has decided to leave as well, with Ben Affleck in negotiations to replace him.

Though while Pitt's departure had to do with issues he had with the script, Norton's problems had to do with a conflicting schedule, as Norton committed to starring in the indie comedy Leaves of Grass. Variety continues:

Now it will be Affleck who plays a fast-rising politician who is caught up in a murder conspiracy. Crowe will play a journalist who leads a newspaper’s investigation into the killing. He’s conflicted in that he once ran the pol’s campaigns, and he is now romancing his estranged wife. Still in the cast are Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright Penn and Jason Bateman.

All this shifting around does not inspire a lot of confidence in this project. Then again, maybe Crowe and Affleck will be a fantastic duo in this situation. I just hope this cast stays put!

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Russell Crowe Replaces Brad Pitt in State of Play

BuzzSugar — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 11:35:50 -0800

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?

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The Cast of State of Play Got Even More Amazing

BuzzSugar — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 05:30:00 -0700

Just last week I told you that Edward Norton and Brad Pitt were reuniting for another film, this one based on the British miniseries State of Play. Well, the cast just got even bigger, with more good-looking, supremely talented people. In addition to Norton and Pitt, Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren and Robin Wright Penn will join the cast. Variety has more:

McAdams will play a reporter in the middle of a career-making story, as her newspaper investigates the death of the mistress of a fast-rising congressman. Mirren will play the steely newspaper editor. (Bill Nighy played the editor in the mini.) Wright Penn will play the estranged wife of the congressman. She becomes romantically involved with the pol's former campaign manager (Pitt), who leads the newspaper's investigative team. Norton plays the congressman and Bateman plays the other lead reporter.

That's some hefty casting news. This project had me at "Pitt and Norton" but now I'm even more excited for State of Play. What do you think? For those of you familiar with the miniseries, how do you think this film will measure up?

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Buzz News Roundup, 9/24

BuzzSugar — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:32:38 -0700

The New York Times has the obituary for the famous French mime Marcel Marceau who died Saturday at age 84.
Jason Bateman will join Brad Pitt and Edward Norton in the movie State of Play, ComingSoon reports.
Tomorrow Chaka Khan will release her first album in ten years, Billboard reports.
The Hollywood Reporter writes about a study that shows the number of gay characters on primetime TV has dropped for the third year in a row.
Justin Timberlake led the MTV Europe Music Awards nominations, People reports.
Hollywood Reporter has news that Ben Kingsley will play William Shakespeare in Will, a movie about the playwright's deathbed meeting with his lawyer to discuss his last will and testament.
Kevin Spacey, Laura Dern and Denis Leary headline the all-star cast for "Recount," HBO's movie about the 2000 presidential election, Variety reports.
Variety reports that "Sex and the City" writer Cindy Chupack will co-write a romantic comedy series for NBC.
Zap2It has news that Alice Ghostly (Esmeralda on "Bewitched"!) has died at age 81.

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Brad Pitt and Edward Norton Together Again!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:32:55 -0700

Fight Club reunion!
Brad Pitt and Edward Norton will share the screen again in State of Play, a film adaptation of the British miniseries. Kevin MacDonald, who did a phenomenal job with Last King of Scotland, will direct.

What's it about?
According to Variety, "Norton will play a congressman whose speedy political rise is threatened by an investigation into the death of his mistress. Pitt plays a politico-turned-journalist whose relationship with the solon is compromised when he oversees his newspaper's investigation into the murder and develops a relationship with the pol's estranged wife."

Hurrah!
These two make an electrifying duo onscreen, and I can't wait to see them together again.

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