Tuesday, December 18

• Something's fishy in State of Play

  Things aren't starting out well for State of Play. First Brad Pitt dropped out, now Edward Norton is following suit.

  Pitt departed the film just before Thanksgiving over script issues, which has left Universal quite displeased, and was replaced by Russell Crowe.

  However, the official line is that Norton is dropping out over scheduling troubles. You see, when Crowe signed on, production got bumped to January, which evidently conflicted with Norton's plans to play the lead(s) in the comedy Leaves of Grass. Now Ben Affleck is in talks to replace Norton as the politician caught in a murder conspiracy.

  Quite a lot of hullabaloo considering filming hasn't even started yet. Not what one calls a 'good omen.'

  Source: Variety.

  
  

  Posted 12/18/2007 by Heather

  Related: Ben Affleck | Edward Norton | State of Play

Monday, December 3

• Pitt out, Crowe in

  Russell Crowe has signed on to replace Brad Pitt in the political drama State of Play.

  Pitt, who was supposed to play a journalist opposite Edward Norton's politico, dropped out of the film just before Thanksgiving reportedly over script issues. The movie is thus expected to begin filming on schedule.

  It is unclear at this time whether Universal will pursue any legal actions against Pitt.

  Source: Variety.

  
  
  

  American Gangster clip

  Russell Crowe's latest movie out now

  Posted 12/03/2007 by Heather

  Related: Brad Pitt | Russell Crowe | State of Play

Wednesday, September 26

• The lovely ladies of Hollywood: Aniston, McAdams, Mirren, Wright Penn, and Michalka

  Hollywood girl power is in full force today, as casting news for several actresses hits the presses.

  Variety is reporting that Jennifer Aniston will be starring opposite Aaron Eckhart in Traveling, a drama about a relationship between a Seattle florist and a self-help guru. Traveling will be the feature directorial debut of writer Brandon Camp (Dragonfly, John Doe), and will be another in a long line of projecst Aniston has lined up, which include She's Just Not That Into You, Management, and Marley & Me.

  Variety also says that actresses Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren, and Robin Wright Penn have all joined the cast of the Brad Pitt-Edward Norton drama State of Play. Casting for that movie is obviously in high gear, as Jason Bateman just signed on only a few days ago. McAdams will play a reporter on the politician's dead girlfriend story, Mirren will play her newspaper editor, and Wright Penn will play the politician's (Norton) estranged wife who gets involved with his former campaign manager (Pitt).

  Finally, MTV is reporting that 16-year-old singer AJ Michalka is the next one to join the cast in Peter Jackson's high profile adaptation of Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones. She will be playing the best friend of the girl who gets killed.

  
  
  

  Exclusive interview with Helen Mirren

  Gerrad Hall talks with Helen Mirren about The Queen.

  Posted 09/26/2007 by Heather

  Related: Helen Mirren | Jennifer Aniston | Rachel McAdams | Robin Wright Penn | AJ Michalka | Traveling | Traveling | State of Play | The Lovely Bones

Monday, September 24

• The rise of Jason Bateman

  For those of us who remember back when Jason Bateman was all teen heartthrobby on Valerie, his virtual disappearance from all things Hollywood was terribly depressing to say the least.

  But in recent years, he's been cropping up again--in Arrested Development, The Ex, Dodgeball, etc. Well, now it seems one of our favorite '80s stars is finally hitting his comeback stride. Not only will Bateman appear in the upcoming buzz-heavy movies, The Kingdom, Juno, and Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, but he also just signed on to costar with Edward Norton and Brad Pitt in their next project. 

  State of Play stars Norton as a congressman implicated in the death of his girlfriend and Pitt as his former campaign manager. Bateman will play one of the reporters on the story.

  Now that is one good-looking bunch of hombres. Can we sign up for the junket now?

  Source: Variety.

  
  
  

  The Kingdom trailer

  Jamie Foxx stars in the latest movie by Peter Berg.

  Posted 09/24/2007 by Heather

  Related: Jason Bateman | State of Play

Wednesday, September 12

• Norton and Pitt get back in the ring

  Looks like Edward Norton thought Brad Pitt was so nice he wanted to work with him twice. The Fight Club duo will be reteaming for State of Play, a crime drama bout a rising politician (Norton) whose mistress suddenly turns up dead. Pitt will play the journalist on the case.

  The movie, which will be based on a British miniseries of the same name, will be directed by Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland).

  But what we want to know is: Will they be beating the hell of each other?

  
  
  

  The Assassination of Jesse James trailer

  Brad Pitt can next be seen in this movie

  Posted 09/12/2007 by Heather

  Related: Brad Pitt | Edward Norton | Kevin Macdonald | State of Play