State of Play Has Found New Leading Actor in Russell Crowe

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Russell Crowe has agreed to join the cast of "State of Play". Variety reported that after being left by their leading actor, Brad Pitt, citing on script issues, Universal Picture has approached and signed a deal with the "American Gangster" star to replace Pitt in their new political thriller movie.

In this movie, Crowe will portray a politic consultant who turned to be a journalist and motivated the murder investigation of a politician's wife involving a fast-rising statesman, portrayed by Edward Norton. Though becoming the motivator of the investigation, Crowe's character was faced with a conflicting problem since he once ran campaigns for the Norton's character and was the pol's friend, but on the other side he also had an affair with his wife.

"State of Play" is actually scheduled to be in production in November, but has to be halted because the Pitt pulled out at the last minutes. Under the production of Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, the movie adaptation of the British miniseries is now expected to start production this month with its complete cast, including Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman and Robin Wright Penn.