NEWS below

CAST (From the IMDb):

Directed by: Kevin Macdonald

Written by: Matthew Michael Carnahan

Based on the BBC Miniseries Created by: Paul Abbott

Producers: Andrew Hauptman, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner

Executive Producers: Paul Abbott, E. Bennet Walsh

NEWS

8/15/08 - Variety: Universal's Golden Summer - " She (production prexy Donna Langley) and Working Title scrambled to save "State of Play" after Brad Pitt left the picture during the writers strike, citing script issues. They replaced Pitt with Russell Crowe and Edward Norton with Ben Affleck. "It's a different movie than if we had shot it with Brad," she says. "Russell gives a wonderful, naturalistic performance. In terms of what we set out to achieve, it's a dramatic thriller with a romantic triangle at the center. That's intact." Crowe was set to reunite with Ridley Scott on the Robin Hood adventure "Nottingham," which Langley figures would cost between $100 million and $120 million. But SAG uncertainty made it impossible to commit to a narrow shooting window, and the pic was recently postponed. "It's a big expensive movie," Langley says, "all shot outside." The filmmakers were building sets north of London and needed just the right summer foliage. Universal always insisted that if things weren't resolved with SAG, it would not proceed with filming until next year. Besides, she says, "We needed the script to bake a little bit." The film will start next year

6/20/08 - The Times UK: Related - Jason Bateman -- Hancock could make Jason Bateman a star at last -- "...He has just finished a role in the Hollywood film version of the British TV drama State of Play opposite Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck, playing the character of Dominic Foy, the part originally taken by Marc Warren. The director was the Scottish wunderkind Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland). “In this version Foy is a bisexual fetish club promoter who has some information that Russell's character wants, which he is not willing to give. It's about a 15-page segment of the film and my character goes from A to Z in 15 pages.” - Thanks, Allison

6/20/08 - The Independent: (More on Jason) -- Jason Bateman - a child star grows up -- "If playing a genial, happily-married PR guy wasn't much of a stretch for the affable actor, then he's eager to get his teeth into his next role as a fetish-club promoter in the thriller State of Play, co-starring Russell Crowe and Robin Wright Penn. "It's a bizarre and nasty character who wears a lot of leather and likes gags and also has an OxyContin addiction," he enthuses." - Thanks, Allison

From Wikipedia: Russell Crowe plays Cal McCaffrey. The character is a "street smart" reporter, described by Kevin Macdonald as "[representing] the old world journalist, the shining knight who is after the truth". Macdonald traveled to Australia to court Crowe's involvement, which averted the film's abandonment after Brad Pitt dropped out of the role citing concerns over the script. Crowe (who is reportedly happy with the script) also had to negotiate with the studio over shooting dates to avoid a conflict with Nottingham, which he is due to star in for director Ridley Scott in March 2008. The majority of Crowe's three hours per day in hair and makeup preparation was spent hiding his "extremely long" hair, which he grew for Nottingham. During filming in Washington, D.C., Crowe acquired an education in journalism from The Washington Post's Metro editor, R.B. Brenner. British newspaper The Independent noted that hiring an A-list American actor for the lead role was sidelining original McCaffrey actor John Simm, who it said was "widely considered one of the best television actors to emerge in recent years" and that the recasting was "the latest example of the trend for British actors to be replaced by Americans". The Stage television writer Liz Thomas said that while it was frustrating for British actors, such casting made good commercial sense, expressing hope that the film's high profile would be a "huge advert" or "shop window" for other such projects to come out of the UK in recent years.

4/15/08 - Plot Synopsis From Rope of Silicon: See below

2/29/08 - The Daily Mail - Baz Bamigboye: Regal Helen Mirren puts the accent on adaptability -- Helen Mirren was in the middle of switching accents. -- "I've just played the English editor-in-chief in State Of Play and I'm heading to Albuquerque to play a brothel owner who is very American in Taylor's film," the Oscar-winner told me, referring to the movie Love Ranch, which is being directed by her husband, Taylor Hackford. ...In the film version, being directed by Kevin Macdonald (who made The Last King Of Scotland), Helen, as editor of a Washington daily paper, has to tough it out with secretive politicians when her dogged investigative reporter, played by Russell Crowe, uncovers a story involving murder and corruption. Bill Nighy played Helen's part in the TV series. "She's the one in control," Andrew Hauptman, the producer who secured the film rights from Abbott, told me. "She is the person in charge of this newspaper and she makes it known that she's strong, old school - a real Fleet Street type," Hauptman added. Eric Fellner of Working Title (the London studio behind Atonement - which won an Oscar, by the way, for best score) is overseeing the production and he and his associates commissioned the building of a massive newsroom in a Los Angeles studio. The film also stars Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams and Jason Bateman. - Thanks, Maria

2/21/08 - JFX online: Rachel McAdams and Russell in character on set

2/5/08- Thanks to Cindy - Pics of Russell as Cal McAffrey and Jason Batemen as Dominic Foy on the set of State of Play (From JFX on line)

12/18/07- Variety: Norton exits 'State of Play' -- Affleck in talks to replace actor - Thanks, Maria

12/3/07 - Flash!: Variety: Crowe commits to 'State of Play' -- 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.

12/3/07 - Variety: Many top names free for spring films -- "...Universal took advantage of the availability of Russell Crowe to keep "State of Play" going, but that was an anomaly. He is poised to step into a fully formed picture, with sets constructed, Kevin Macdonald ready to direct, and a stellar cast -- Edward Norton, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman and Robin Wright Penn -- all locked into pay-or-play deals. Indications are that Crowe likes the script, and the studio and his WMA reps are trying to make a deal that will allow him time to report to the Ridley Scott-directed drama "Nottingham" in March. Even if the start date of "State of Play" gets pushed a bit, U is financing both films and won't have to barter with a rival studio nervous that Crowe will be late arriving to Sherwood Forest."

11/29/07 - (Note: Final negotiations doesn't mean signed on the dotted line, so some restraint is needed here) -- The 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. - Thanks, Kris C - Also at Reuters - Thanks, Marilyn