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Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) laughs down at his opponent in FIGHT CLUB(1999).
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Brad Pitt Out of STATE OF PLAY

By: Jarrod Sarafin, News Editor
Date: Thursday, November 22, 2007
Source: Hollywood Reporter

Brad Pitt won't be reteaming with Edward Norton for the first time since FIGHT CLUB after all. He has left the project STATE OF PLAY due to script concerns, reports the Hollywood Reporter. The trade says that the actor and director Kevin MacDonald have been trying to work together on the script issues with his character but due to the WGA strike, it couldn't get resolved. Instead, Universal is now on the fast track to get someone else to fill his role, studio sources hinting that they're trying for Johnny Depp or Russell Crowe. The thriller stars Edward Norton, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman and Robin Wright Penn. It's based on a Matthew Michael Carnahan scripted adaptation of the British miniseries of the same name.

Plot Concept: Story centered on a politician-turned-journalist who spearheads a newspaper's investigation of a murder, a trail that leads to the fast-rising politician (Norton) whose campaigns were once masterminded by the journalist.

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Comments/Responses

exfan • Nov 22, 2007, 03:20am •

i would like to make a comment about that s kind of celebrity. This huge promotion about his private life doesn t help. With angeilna jolie visiting cambodgia hospital, or want to purchase an island to promote biotope life, i mean more we ear about they personal life, worst is their choice for script. remenber ben afflect, Now he say that his relation with jenifer lopez ruin his carer, somehow i agree with him...look johnny depp we never eard anything about his personal life, and he s carer is on top...Brad pit since the so so ocean 13 didn t do nothing good, and he was damn good before he turn to a star !

ponyboy76 • Nov 22, 2007, 04:09am •

exfan, his choice of not making this movie has absolutely nothing to do with his celebrity. They just couldn`t get the script to work and Pitt is a very hands on type of actor. He definitely has no problems getting big roles like Affleck did. Last year he was in a movie that won an Academy award and this year there is serious Oscar buzz for his role as Jesse James. I`m pretty sure he`s okay. Dudes been a star for quite few years.

Necronomitron • Nov 22, 2007, 10:18am •

So has Tom Cruise. Celebrity tenure hasn't saved him.

Batman777 • Nov 22, 2007, 12:42pm •

BABEL...and "**** who killed JEsse James",,,,,enough said..

myklspader • Nov 22, 2007, 01:54pm •

Sometimes I think they bail out due to the slightest character trait. Like this character probably loved peanut M&Ms, and Pitt likes Plain and thinks the character grew up long Peanut Butter Reese, so he walked.

Then again he probably bailed cause he and the woman had to go save another kid somewhere.

Kerrith • Nov 22, 2007, 05:03pm •

I am glad to see an actor take the quality of his work seriously. If he had concerns about the script or the character that could not be resolved during preproduction, I am glad he would chose to walk away rather than take the money and phone in a performance.

SONYMANswallows • Nov 22, 2007, 10:32pm •

What's wrong with Ben Affleck's career? He has a great wife and daughter and he was incredible as Geoge Reeves. GONE BABY GONE is a great film as well. Affleck was on a bunch of magazine covers and portrayed in a very positive way as well. All of Pitt's recent films have been successful, not blockbusters but successful.

And Tom Cruise is doing great or else Robert Redford would not have wanted him in Lions for Lambs or is it Lambs for Lions. And now he has that film about the attempt to kill Hitler. Tom has nothing to prove accept how much he can get people to bitch about something he does and then the bitchers cant even get their facts straight so they rely on old Oprah episodes to try and make a point which is completely invalid.

ponyboy76 • Nov 23, 2007, 04:11am •

You are preaching to the choir Sony. All three actors I like. I wouldn`t put Affleck on exactly the same level as Pitt and Cruise. I personally think that they are more commanding actors, but Affleck was really good as George Reeves. People just focus too much on "celebrity" and gossip instead of the job.

wish • Nov 23, 2007, 10:10am •

This actor finished his proving stage long ago, his decision to drop this film is hardly news but none the less shows his integrity to deliver his best. Of all the pretty boys and leading men superstars over the last couple decades only Christian Bale has shown equal skill and diversity worthy of the titles and salaries.

SONYMANswallows • Nov 23, 2007, 05:35pm •

Chrisytian Bale is not a pretty boy.

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