Editorials > Ben Affleck to Replace Norton in State of Play

What was once being jokingly described as the Fight Club reunion film, no longer stars either Brad Pitt or Edward Norton. Pitt left a month ago with Universal threatening legal actions and was subsequently replaced by Russell Crowe. Now Norton has to pull out, though under more amicable circumstances.

With the start date being moved from November to January as a result of the Brad Pitt fiasco, Norton's schedule came into conflict, as he is producing and starring in an independent comedy written and directed by Incredible Hulk co-star Tim Blake Nelson called Leaves of Grass. In his stead, Ben Affleck is in talks to play, in the words of Variety, "a fast-rising politician 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 is now romancing the solon's estranged wife."

Rounding out the high profile cast are Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman, and Robin Wright Penn. There are still some questions about Mirren's schedule as she is also obligated to star in her husband Taylor Hackford's film Love Ranch.

-David Morgan