State of Play
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Cast: Edward Norton [EN exited film], Russell Crowe, Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren and Robin Wright Penn
Director: Kevin Macdonald ("The Last King of Scotland")
Screenwriter: Matthew Michael Carnahan
Filming: starts Jan 2008
Summary: [Affleck] 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. (From Variety Sep 12, 2007)
NOTE: Brad Pitt was originally signed for Russell Crowe's role, but he backed out due to script concerns
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News
Dec 18, 2007- Variety just reported that EN has left State of Play [Thanks to Pat and
Donna for the info!!!]
Posted: Tue., Dec. 18, 2007, 11:03am PT
Norton exits 'State of Play'
Affleck in talks to replace actor
By MICHAEL FLEMING>
Edward Norton is exiting “State
of Play,” and talks are under way for Ben Affleck to replace him in the Kevin
Macdonald-directed drama for Universal Pictures and Working Title.
"State of Play" is expected to begin production in the first week of January.
Norton becomes the second high profile cast member to disembark, following
the exit of his “Fight Club” co-star Brad Pitt just before Thanksgiving.
While Universal threatened legal action with Pitt, Norton’s exit has no
rancor. His problem: he had committed to follow “State of Play” by playing the
dual leads in “Leaves of Grass,” an independent comedy written and to be
directed by Tim Blake Nelson. Norton is producing that picture with his Class 5
Films partner Bill Migliore, and Nelson. Barbarian Films is financing.
Pitt’s exit, and the courtship of Russell Crowe to replace him, moved the
“State of Play” start date from mid-November into January. That created a clash,
and the studio, working with Norton’s and Affleck’s reps at Endeavor, worked out
an exit plan.
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. Andrew Hauptman and Working Title partners Tim Bevan and Eric
Fellner are producing. While Mirren had a stop date so that she could star with
Joe Pesci in the Taylor Hackford-directed “Love Ranch,” attempts are being made
to work out the dates.
Affleck’s most recent credits include a starring role in last year’s
“Hollywoodland” and his directorial debut, “Gone Baby Gone.”
Dec 3, 2007 Variety just sent out a "Breaking News" email announcing that Russell Crowe has committed to State of Play
Crowe commits to 'State of Play'
Actor replaces Pitt in Universal film
By MICHAEL FLEMING
Russell Crowe has committed to star for Universal in "State of Play," a development that keeps the Kevin Macdonald-directed film on course to begin production this year.
Crowe joins Edward Norton, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman and Robin Wright Penn, who were all locked into pay-or-play deals when Brad Pitt abruptly exited the project just before Thanksgiving.
Producers are Andrew Hauptman and Working Title partners Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner.
Matthew Michael Carnahan wrote the script.
Crowe will play a politico-turned-journalist who spearheads his newspaper's investigation into a killing that leads to a fast-rising pol (Norton). The journalist faces two conflicts: he once ran campaigns for the pol and was his confidante; the journalist develops a romance with the pol's estranged wife (Wright Penn).
Unclear is whether Universal will take legal action against Pitt, after issuing a statement that it would leave open all options. Pitt's reps at the time indicated he wanted to make the movie, but wasn't pleased with the script.
The studio went to Crowe immediately, who'll be making three consecutive pictures for the studio. He just starred with Denzel Washington in the hit "American Gangster," and he will segue from "State of Play" into "Nottingham," a Universal drama that is a revisionist take on the Robin Hood legend and a reappraisal of the Sheriff of Nottingham, the role Crowe will play. Imagine's Brian Gazer and director Ridley Scott, the team behind "American Gangster," will reunite for "Nottingham" in March.
The studio was optimistic that it will keep its cast, even with a November production start pushing to early December in L.A. and D.C. Mirren had an issue, in that she needs to finish in time to start production with Joe Pesci in "Love Ranch," a drama that's being directed by her husband, Taylor Hackford. Expectation is that she'll be done in time, and that Crowe will be finished in time to make "Nottingham."
Nov 30, 2007- Variety columnist Anne Thompson gives her take on the writers' strike and its effect on State of Play and other projects. I've included the relevant parts below
Hollywood's new scapegoat
Strike allows some to bail out of projects
By ANNE THOMPSON
During the best of times, movies heading toward production are fragile chemical equations. Add a writers' strike to that mix and things were bound to explode. "It's tough enough to get things right," says one senior agent. "This difficult situation makes it even more difficult. If something is risky it's always the first casualty, whether there's a strike or anything else."
So it was no surprise when five volatile go-projects fell apart last week: Sony pulled the February start for Ron Howard's "Da Vinci Code" sequel "Angels & Demons," starring Tom Hanks; United Artists shut down Oliver Stone's November starter "Pinkville," an investigation into the My Lai massacre starring Bruce Willis; Warner Bros. pushed back Mira Nair's Indian epic "Shantaram," starring Johnny Depp; Weinstein Co. postponed "Nine," Rob Marshall's screen adaptation of the Broadway musical inspired by Fellini's "8 ½"; and when Brad Pitt pulled out of Kevin Macdonald's political thriller "State of Play," Universal threatened to sue.
Players involved in all five pics cited striking writers as a key factor in scuttling the projects. But while the strike certainly made things more vexing, there were also other forces at play. The strike offers studios, filmmakers and movie stars a smokescreen for doing just what they want to do, with a convenient scapegoat.
"It's a get-out-of-jail-free card," says one producer.
Over the past six months the looming writers' strike (with potential director and actor walkouts threatened in July 2008), pushed the studios to announce a raft of green lights sooner than they would have under normal circumstances. Stars jostled for position on projects lined up for takeoff like planes at LaGuardia. But many of those commitments seem less firm than if writers were available to make changes.
[Further down in article]
On the other hand, Universal and Working Title are desperately trying to keep "State of Play," which was supposed to start Nov. 15, on the fast track. The studio was threatening to sue the pay-or-play Pitt, as it once did Mike Myers over "Dieter." (Myers eventually settled.) Now the studio is trying to replace the balky Pitt with "American Gangster" star Russell Crowe, who trying to work out his schedule. He is skedded to start Ridley Scott's "Nottingham" in March for the studio.
Universal and Working Title couldn't afford to wait for Pitt because they had assembled a huge A-list cast, all committed to work for several weeks at a time, all backing into other pictures. Lose Pitt, and the entire house of cards -- Edward Norton, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright Penn, Jason Bateman-- would come tumbling down. That's why replacing him with another Universal-friendly player was the best solution. "We have a fantastic script," says one Universal exec. "We were ready to go. Everybody knew what we were doing. It was not a writer/script issue. I hope we recast the movie."
But it was a script issue for Pitt. His reps at CAA insist that "the script was not ready, because there was no writer to finish it." Major stars are invested in not making career mistakes, in feeling confident that they can carry a movie to a win. Thesps like Pitt, who often take chances on riskier material, have to jump in with both feet. Pitt is known for last-minute waffling. (He walked away from Darren Aronofsky's "The Fountain," which flopped with Hugh Jackman, and the Coen brothers' "The White Sea," which never got made, and only reluctantly went ahead with Doug Liman's "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," which was a huge hit. He just completed filming the Coens' "Burn After Reading.") "If it's script-related, it becomes strike-related," comments one agent at CAA.
[Further down in article]
... Mega-stars like Pitt have come expect to be able work in conditions that are ideal. But studios are committed to filling their pipelines, and Universal, at least, is willing to butt heads with a major star to do so. Other studios are capitulating. Odds are, Crowe will make "State of Play," Hanks will eventually shoot "Angels & Demons," Marshall will direct "Nine," and Depp will travel to India for "Shantaram." "Pinkville" looks more iffy, but Stone and producer Jon Kilik could revive it on a smaller indie scale.
Nov 29, 2007 Reuters (via the Hollywood Reporter) is carrying an article that Crowe is in final negotiations for State of Play. However, this morning when I found this story, I checked the Hollywood Reporter website and there was no mention of it. Below is the Reuters story [Thanks to Monica and Robin for the info!!!]
Crowe steps in to "Play" after Pitt's exit
Thu Nov 29, 2007 2:16am EST
By Borys Kit
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Russell Crowe is in final negotiations to replace Brad Pitt in "State of Play," saving Universal and Working Title's delayed political thriller from shutting down.
Pitt pulled out of the movie last week, citing script concerns that made him uneasy about toplining the picture. That brought him to loggerheads with the studio, which was adamant about going ahead with the script they had. Even meetings with the movie's director, Kevin Macdonald, proved fruitless.
Macdonald ("The Last King of Scotland") spent the weekend in Australia wooing Crowe, who had to see if "Play" could fit into his schedule; Crowe is scheduled to shoot Universal's "Nottingham," the Ridley Scott-directed reimagining of the Robin Hood story.
In "State of Play," an adaptation of a British miniseries, Crowe will star alongside Edward Norton, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman and Robin Wright Penn. He will play a political consultant-turned-journalist who heads a newspaper's murder investigation involving a fast-rising politician (Norton).
Crowe has turned into something of a favorite son for Universal, for whom he stars in "American Gangster," which has grossed more than $115.5 million to date. He also toplined "Cinderella Man" and "A Beautiful Mind" for the studio.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
Nov 25, 2007- Variety.com posted on their website today that they are trying to get Crowe to replace Pitt for State of Play. Filming was supposed to start Nov 15 (which means a lot of people connected to this film did not have the best Thanksgiving). The article is below
Posted: Sun., Nov. 25, 2007, 2:45pm PT
Universal seeks Crowe for 'Play'
Studio seaches for Pitt replacement
By MICHAEL FLEMING
Universal Pictures spent the weekend trying to convince Russell Crowe, its "American Gangster" topliner, to replace Brad Pitt as the star of "State of Play."
The result of that courtship will be known early this week and will determine how ugly things get between the studio and Pitt after he exited the picture over disagreements about the shooting script.
Pitt's exit on Thanksgiving eve not only put the picture in a state of flux, it also left a studio and star with differing opinions on which one caused the exit. And it left Hollywood questioning how valid pay-or-play deals are in a strike climate where studios are venturing into production starts on scripts that can't get a rewrite if they need one.
U claimed Pitt left a pay-or-play commitment and left open the option of suing him; Pitt's camp claimed he was essentially forced out of a movie he's been eager to topline for almost two years just because the studio wouldn't wait for a strike resolution and a rewrite to bring the script back to a place that made him comfortable.
While the writers strike has so far had its greatest impact on network series, it has wreaked havoc over the past two weeks on films including "Angels & Demons," "Shantaram" and "Pinkville," which were postponed. "State of Play" is now struggling to avoid that fate.
Weeks ago, "State of Play" headed toward its Nov. 15 start date with a sparkling cast. Now, if Crowe doesn't fit in the pic before playing the Sheriff of Nottingham in the Ridley Scott-directed U drama "Nottingham," which begins shooting in March, "State of Play" will be in jeopardy.
Actors like Johnny Depp and Tom Hanks are available after their pictures ("Shantaram" and "Angels & Demons," respectively) were postponed, but Universal is in a hurry to keep "Play" cast members Edward Norton, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright Penn and Jason Bateman in place. Mirren needs to begin production soon so she can finish in time to start "Love Ranch" early next year with husband-director Taylor Hackford and co-star Joe Pesci.
The role Pitt exited and Crowe is considering is a politico-turned-journalist who spearheads his newspaper's investigation into a killing that leads to a fast-rising pol (Norton). The journalist faces two conflicts: He once ran campaigns for the pol and was his confidant, and the journo develops a romance with the pol's estranged wife (Wright Penn).
If the studio chooses to sue Pitt, it would test the validity of a pay-or-play deal. Universal believed that Pitt signed one, while Pitt's reps believed he didn't, because he never approved a shooting script that got rewritten numerous times and never to his satisfaction.
Pitt was dedicated to "State of Play," having been attached for 16 months to a project that has been a high U priority since the studio, producers Andrew Hauptman and Working Title partners Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner landed the project after a hot bidding war. Pitt had a say in selecting the director and the cast.
Unfortunately, Pitt and the studio never quite meshed on the script, said several sources. He sparked to Matthew Michael Carnahan's original adaptation of the Paul Abbott-created British miniseries but apparently liked it more than the studio. While the actor made several movies in quick succession, Universal got rewrites by the likes of Peter Morgan, Tony Gilroy and Billy Ray. Pitt's vision departed from that of the studio somewhere along that rewrite trail.
Pitt wanted to wait for a strike resolution to get a rewrite that brought the film closer to Carnahan's original. Studio, eager to keep its late 2008 release date, told Pitt it liked the script as is and encouraged him to honor his commitment. The start date was postponed, while helmer Kevin Macdonald and the studio spent several days trying to make Pitt OK with the script they had since rewrites weren't an option.
U announced his departure in a statement released last Wednesday: "Brad Pitt has left the Universal Pictures production of 'State of Play.' We remain committed to this project and to the filmmakers, cast members, crew and others who are also involved in making the movie. We reserve all rights in this matter."
The studio has sued stars before. It filed a breach-of-contract suit against Mike Myers when he ankled "Dieter" because he was unhappy with the script. A settlement was reached.
Nov 24, 2007- Today's New York Times has an article that talks in depth of the ramifications of Brad Pitt leaving State of Play Below are excerpts from the article: For Film Companies, a State of Flux
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 23 — When Brad Pitt dropped out of the political thriller “State of Play” at the 11th hour on Wednesday, he did more than throw a wrench into the works of one of the highest-profile movie productions under way in a Hollywood already overheated by strike-related contingency planning. He might have helped tip the balance of power between actors and studios, at least temporarily, in the employers’ favor.
For weeks, lawyers and agents say, employers have had to pay a premium of as much as 10 to 15 percent over actors’ normal salaries to book them into the dozens of movies that are filming between now and June, when the Screen Actors Guild’s contract expires. But with talks set to resume on Monday between striking writers and the movie and television companies, the chance of a quick settlement has added a gust of uncertainty, which producers say could work to the advantage of studios that are trying to lock in their last few deals with actors.
Mr. Pitt’s departure from “State of Play,” for example, prompted Universal Pictures to begin talks with the actor Russell Crowe, whose next assignment, after all, is Ridley Scott’s “Nottingham,” a reimagining of the Robin Hood story from the sheriff’s point of view, also for Universal.
But if Mr. Crowe balks at picking up Mr. Pitt’s leftovers, Universal at least has the comfort of knowing he is not the only A-list actor available. Tom Hanks is suddenly free, his “Da Vinci Code” sequel, “Angels & Demons,” having been postponed by Sony Pictures because Akiva Goldsman’s script was not quite where the studio wanted it to be when the writers walked. (The movie’s scheduled release was pushed back from December 2008 to May 2009.)
And Johnny Depp was to have gone into production in February on Mira Nair’s “Shantaram” for Warner Brothers, playing a heroin addict who flees prison, poses as a doctor in the slums of Mumbai and winds up battling Russian criminals in Afghanistan. But that film was delayed indefinitely, Warner Brothers said, as efforts to scale back the movie’s cost required Eric Roth to rework his adaptation more than he had managed to do before the writers strike began. And a delay would mean the production would get caught in the Indian monsoon season.
[Further down in the article]
The crisis surrounding “State of Play,” meanwhile, seemed largely of Mr. Pitt’s making, to hear it from people connected to the production; his publicist could not be reached for comment on Friday. The movie, based on a hit six-hour BBC miniseries about a star politician and an ace reporter who are caught up in all sorts of intrigue, was adapted by Matthew Michael Carnahan (“The Kingdom,” “Lions for Lambs”) for Mr. Pitt to star in. To satisfy itself and then to try to allay Mr. Pitt’s concerns, Universal brought in a parade of A-list script doctors: Tony Gilroy of the “Bourne” series, Peter Morgan (“The Queen,” “The Last King of Scotland”) and, finally, Billy Ray (“Breach”).
Two people connected to the production, speaking on condition of anonymity so as not to pay a price for antagonizing one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, said that the producers asked Mr. Pitt for a speedy answer about its latest version of the screenplay several days before the writers’ strike, but that he registered his dissatisfaction with the script only several hours after the strike had begun — and just 10 days before filming was to have started with Edward Norton, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright Penn and Jason Bateman as Mr. Pitt’s co-stars. (This was not the first time Mr. Pitt bolted a production at the last minute; he did so on Darren Aronofsky’s film “The Fountain,” which was then reworked for Hugh Jackman to star in.) Another associate of Mr. Pitt, reached late on Friday, said that Mr. Pitt had rejected the last version of the script on Nov. 3, two days before the strike, and had tried to work out a compromise with the director, Kevin Macdonald, before pulling out.
The project was delayed while the studio tried to cajole Mr. Pitt into proceeding with some version of the script. Universal then released a statement saying, “We remain committed to this project and to the filmmakers, cast members, crew and others who are also involved in making the movie.” Now, with sets built and crews hired, the producers face a short window to replace Mr. Pitt or face other casting challenges: Ms. Mirren begins shooting “Love Ranch” in January, meaning that she will have to leave the cast of “State of Play” if it doesn’t start up by mid-December.
Nov 21, 2007- According to the Hollywood Reporter, Brad Pitt has dropped out of State of Play
Brad Pitt has pulled out of Universal's political thriller "State of Play" because of script concerns.
The move comes after a couple of weeks of meetings between Pitt and director Kevin MacDonald in an attempt to iron out the concerns. The script cannot be worked on due to the writers strike.
Universal is on the fast track to replace the star. Sources said the studio is looking at Johnny Depp, whose own movie "Shantaram" just got postponed at Warner Bros., as well as Russell Crowe.
Pitt was set to star with Edward Norton, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman and Robin Wright Penn in the Matthew Michael Carnahan-scripted adaptation of the British miniseries. He was playing a political consultant-turned-journalist who heads a newspaper's murder investigation involving a fast-rising politician (Norton).
Sources said the studio is mulling its legal options and might sue the actor.
Universal confirmed Pitt's departure in a statement: "Brad Pitt has left the Universal Pictures production of 'State of Play.' We remain committed to this project and to the filmmakers, cast members, crew and others who are also involved in making the movie. We reserve all rights in this matter."
Sep 25, 2007- Tomorrow's
Variety and
Hollywood
Reporter state Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren and Robin Wright Penn are joining State of Play
(HR reports they are in negotiations, Variety reports it as definite). "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. (Variety description)"
[Thanks to Mary Beth for the info!!!]
Sep 24, 2007- Today's
Variety reports
that Jason Bateman is joining the cast of State of Play with EN and Brad Pitt. "Drama revolves
around a newspaper's investigation of the murder of a girlfriend of a fast-rising congressman, played
by Norton. Pitt plays the former campaign manager of the pol who spearheads the paper's investigation,
and Bateman will play one of the key reporters chasing the story." Also,
People.com reports
that Pitt visited the Washington Post newsroom Friday while researching his role.
Sep 12, 2007 - Variety reports that EN is reteaming with Brad Pitt. [Thanks to ikeagirl for the info!!!!]
Norton, Pitt reteam for 'State of Play'
'Fight Club' duo to star in Universal adaptation
By MICHAEL FLEMING
Edward Norton is getting back in the ring with his "Fight Club" partner Brad Pitt.
Duo will star in "State of Play," Universal Pictures' adaptation of the British miniseries. Kevin
Macdonald ("The Last King of Scotland") is directing the Matthew Michael Carnahan script.
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.
Project has been a high priority for U since the studio won an auction for rights to the six-hour mini
written by Paul Abbott. Though Pitt has long been attached, he had been courted for other pics while Tony
Gilroy worked on a rewrite. Pitt recently committed after that script was turned in, and the project is
on track for a November start.
Andrew Hauptman will produce with Working Title partners Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner. Abbott is exec producer.
Norton will begin shooting "State of Play" days after he wraps "The Incredible Hulk" for Marvel
Studios, with Universal releasing the Louis Leterrier-directed superhero film on June 13.
Last updated on Tuesday, December 18, 2007
If you have new information on Edward Norton (and you can provide a
verifiable and reputable source), please email me-
Susan
Note: Articles and images have been posted without permission for noncommercial and nonprofit use
with no intention of copyright infringement. The purpose of this reprinting is to disseminate correct information about the
actors, films, and studios. I have included author names and links to sources whenever possible.
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