Subject:  New movie role for Brad/Norton also exits State of Play |
Author:
Terry
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Date Posted: 13:30:28 12/19/07 Wed
Brad is in talks for a new movie role - from Variety:
Pitt in talks to star in 'Tree of Life'
Sean Penn to co-star in Malick drama
By MICHAEL FLEMING
Brad Pitt is in talks to climb into "Tree of Life," a drama Terrence Malick wrote and will direct.
River Road is financing, and Bill Pohlad is producing with Sarah Green ("The New World") and Grant Hill.
Pitt, who recently ankled the Universal Pictures drama "State of Play," would replace Heath Ledger, who was skedded to star with Sean Penn in the Malick-directed drama, which begins production in the spring. Though Penn is booked to play the title character in the Gus Van Sant-directed "Milk," he's still expected to play a supporting role in "Tree of Life." Penn has an allegiance to River Road's Pohlad, who co-financed with Paramount Vantage the Penn-directed "Into the Wild." No deals have been made with Pitt or Penn. Pitt would have earned $20 million against gross to star in "State of Play," but he'll likely sign on to "Tree of Life" for nearly no upfront money.
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Edward Norton exits State of Play
Edward Norton Exits State of Play
Source: Variety December 18, 2007
Variety says that Edward Norton is exiting State of Play, and talks are under way for Ben Affleck to replace him in the Kevin Macdonald-directed drama for Universal Pictures and Working Title. The film is expected to begin production in the first week of January.
Norton becomes the second high profile cast member to disembark, following the exit of his Fight Club co-star Brad Pitt just before Thanksgiving.
While Universal threatened legal action with Pitt, Norton's exit has no rancor. His problem: he had committed to follow State of Play by playing the dual leads in Leaves of Grass, an independent comedy written and to be directed by Tim Blake Nelson. Norton is producing that picture with his Class 5 Films partner Bill Migliore, and Nelson. Barbarian Films is financing.
Pitt’s exit, and the courtship of Russell Crowe to replace him, moved the State of Play start date from mid-November into January. That created a clash, and the studio, working with Norton's and Affleck's reps at Endeavor, worked out an exit plan.
Now it will be Affleck who plays a fast-rising politician who is 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 he is now romancing his estranged wife.
Still in the cast are Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright Penn and Jason Bateman.
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This writers strike really causes a lot of troubles. Wonder when they will finally settle it. I heard that George Clooney also dropped out of a movie role now. Just like Norton he seems to face no legal problems, but of course they wanted to make an example of Brad.
I think it is interesting that they postponed the production for State of Play from November to January, but they wanted Brad to start production immediately. They seem to apply to double standards.
But since the studio works with both, Norton's and Crowe's reps, they find solutions in this case. But they make a public drama when Brad dares to exit. As I said, double standards.
Wonder who drops out next.
Good to see that Brad has other projects in the pipeline. Don't know what "Tree of Life" is about, but what a great title! And I like Sean Penn, but on the pic from Variety he looks scary. See http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117977922.html?categoryid=13&cs=1
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