Brad Pitt Pulls out of 'State of Play'
Is Brad developing a habit? This isn’t the first time he has done this as the article below mentions. A big stink was made when he pulled out of The Fountain as it caused production to go under for awhile until Hugh Jackman picked it up. Not very professional especially if it has nothing to do with the script. This also puts Universal in a bind to try to find a replace in the mist of the Writer’s Strike. As if they don’t have other things to deal with. Will be interesting to see who picks this one up or if it is canned all together. Has a great casting so hope it can be salvaged in some way.
Brad Pitt drops out of ‘State of Play’
Universal will try to recast by Nov. 29
By MICHAEL FLEMINGBrad Pitt has pulled out of a pay or play deal on “State of Play,” putting the Universal Pictures drama in a state of flux.
Pitt ankled the film early Wednesday, following two weeks of struggle and meetings with director Kevin Macdonald that prevented the film from making its original Nov. 15 production start date.
Studio will try to find a star to replace Pitt. While strike-related production postponements of films like “Angels & Demons” and “Shantaram” have made actors like Tom Hanks and Johnny Depp suddenly available, the studio has a very short window of time to work in. If Universal doesn’t recast and get the picture going by Nov. 29, it will begin losing the other actors in the film.
Pitt was set to star with Edward Norton, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman and Robin Wright Penn in the Matthew Michael Carnahan-scripted adaptation of the British miniseries. Pitt was playing a politico-turned-journalist who spearheads a newspaper’s investigation of a murder, a trail that leads to the fast-rising pol whose campaigns were once masterminded by Pitt’s character.
If the studio cannot recast the film, it is possible that Universal can bring a lawsuit against Pitt for bailing out of a pay or play deal. While several other films have been postponed due to an inability to get rewrites during the writer’s strike, the studio will maintain that the script wasn’t an issue. This isn’t the first time that Pitt has gotten cold feet on a film. He exited “The Fountain,” and considered doing so on “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” and “Fight Club.”
Universal confirmed Pitt’s exit in a statement.
“Brad Pitt has left the Universal Pictures production of `State of Play.’ We remain committed to this project and to the filmmakers, cast members, crew and others who are also involved in making the movie. We reserve all rights in this matter,” the U statement said.
