Brad Pitt Drops ‘State of Play’

NEW THREAD
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1179 Observer2 : 11/24/2007 at 12:46 pm

Stop making sense, O2. I can practically hear the trolls’ heads exploding.

Personally I’m dying to see what UP does if they can’t get an actor by Nov 29 and/or if the writer’s strike is resolved before then. I think they’ve pretty much blown their wad with Brad. And like I said - any A-list actor out there is going to want script approval and it’s very doubtful they’ll shoot the script as-is. Crowe, Hanks and Depp aren’t Marky Mark. Wahlberg will only ever have script approval in his dreams. He took The Lovely Bones as is not just because it was 2 days before the movie was to start…but because no studio is going to give him script approval.

1183 oh well : 11/24/2007 at 1:33 pm

If the script is good enough for the awesome actress Helen Mirren how the hell could it not be good enough for Mr.pitt?

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Helen Mirren is playing a supporting character and she doesn’t have script approval…that’s how. Nor does she have to worry about the overall script and the coherency of it. The LEAD ACTOR does, though.

You’re acting like Helen hasn’t made some duds in her career. All actors do and the fact of the matter is that no 62 year-old actress is EVER going to have script approval - especially on a project where she’s probably slated for about 15 minutes of screen time.

1187 Cheerios : 11/24/2007 at 1:45 pm
Just got back from the market and Z is in the tabs again - I think Out of touch is just begging to be sued. Why are they in this little girls business anyways? They just make me sick!

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Cheerios - go to the last thread. I posted there yesterday explaining what was in the OuttaTouch about Z…what I didn’t say was that it was only 1 of 2 stories OuttaTouch had this week on Brad & Angie. The other story is beyond stupid - that Angie is torn between 2 men - Jamie & Brad. And that Jamie lied on the Beowulf RC when he said that he and Brad get along great. According to OuttaTouch Jamie doesn’t like Brad and vice versa and Brad wants Jamie to butt out of their lives and for Angie to stop telling Jamie all of their business. We all that story is beyond stupid. Brad took Jamie to lunch in Prague for his b-day because Angie was working and they seemed to get along fine…but hey, it’s not like they’re going to break into a fight with the ratzi looking on! This is the second time OuttaTouch has run this story - actually it may have been L&S last time, but same company, so not that big a deal. The last time it was when they were in Africa waiting for Shiloh to be born and they claimed that Jamie didn’t like the way Brad was changing Angie, ie, the “lavish jet-setting lifestyle” and the security guards, etc. Total effin’ riot.

Famous, I knew you’d like Beowulf.

I told brad pitt what would happened if he turn away from his friend in the flim and movie work. The power of be would help him to bring him home or away from his new girlfrind who call name less in the world with the uk. I’m sorry to tell so that i heard it from a one of his friend

UK R.K.P.

Russell crowe or matthew mcconaughey . either one , hope it does more than top the box office , hope it blows it away.brad thinks he’s the greatest, there’s alot better actors out there, and just as good or better looking too.

Studio seaches for Pitt replacement
By MICHAEL FLEMING
Pitt

Crowe

Universal Pictures spent the weekend trying to convince Russell Crowe, its “American Gangster” topliner, to replace Brad Pitt as the star of “State of Play.”
The result of that courtship will be known early this week and will determine how ugly things get between the studio and Pitt after he exited the picture over disagreements about the shooting script.

Pitt’s exit on Thanksgiving eve not only put the picture in a state of flux, it also left a studio and star with differing opinions on which one caused the exit. And it left Hollywood questioning how valid pay-or-play deals are in a strike climate where studios are venturing into production starts on scripts that can’t get a rewrite if they need one.

U claimed Pitt left a pay-or-play commitment and left open the option of suing him; Pitt’s camp claimed he was essentially forced out of a movie he’s been eager to topline for almost two years just because the studio wouldn’t wait for a strike resolution and a rewrite to bring the script back to a place that made him comfortable.

While the writers strike has so far had its greatest impact on network series, it has wreaked havoc over the past two weeks on films including “Angels & Demons,” “Shantaram” and “Pinkville,” which were postponed. “State of Play” is now struggling to avoid that fate.

Weeks ago, “State of Play” headed toward its Nov. 15 start date with a sparkling cast. Now, if Crowe doesn’t fit in the pic before playing the Sheriff of Nottingham in the Ridley Scott-directed U drama “Nottingham,” which begins shooting in March, “State of Play” will be in jeopardy.

Actors like Johnny Depp and Tom Hanks are available after their pictures (”Shantaram” and “Angels & Demons,” respectively) were postponed, but Universal is in a hurry to keep “Play” cast members Edward Norton, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright Penn and Jason Bateman in place. Mirren needs to begin production soon so she can finish in time to start “Love Ranch” early next year with husband-director Taylor Hackford and co-star Joe Pesci.

The role Pitt exited and Crowe is considering is a politico-turned-journalist who spearheads his newspaper’s investigation into a killing that leads to a fast-rising pol (Norton). The journalist faces two conflicts: He once ran campaigns for the pol and was his confidant, and the journo develops a romance with the pol’s estranged wife (Wright Penn).

If the studio chooses to sue Pitt, it would test the validity of a pay-or-play deal. Universal believed that Pitt signed one, while Pitt’s reps believed he didn’t, because he never approved a shooting script that got rewritten numerous times and never to his satisfaction.

Pitt was dedicated to “State of Play,” having been attached for 16 months to a project that has been a high U priority since the studio, producers Andrew Hauptman and Working Title partners Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner landed the project after a hot bidding war. Pitt had a say in selecting the director and the cast.

Unfortunately, Pitt and the studio never quite meshed on the script, said several sources. He sparked to Matthew Michael Carnahan’s original adaptation of the Paul Abbott-created British miniseries but apparently liked it more than the studio. While the actor made several movies in quick succession, Universal got rewrites by the likes of Peter Morgan, Tony Gilroy and Billy Ray. Pitt’s vision departed from that of the studio somewhere along that rewrite trail.

Pitt wanted to wait for a strike resolution to get a rewrite that brought the film closer to Carnahan’s original. Studio, eager to keep its late 2008 release date, told Pitt it liked the script as is and encouraged him to honor his commitment. The start date was postponed, while helmer Kevin Macdonald and the studio spent several days trying to make Pitt OK with the script they had since rewrites weren’t an option.

U announced his departure in a statement released last Wednesday: “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 studio has sued stars before. It filed a breach-of-contract suit against Mike Myers when he ankled “Dieter” because he was unhappy with the script. A settlement was reached.

Hi JP Fans.
My husband told me about a show CNN did last night that according to him was very much in the JP’s favor.

It was called Prisoner of Fame I will post it here.. Hope it already hasn’t been posted. Pls ignore if so.

ANDERSON: Oh, A.J. Well, Paris Hilton can`t make a move without a camera capturing every detail. And you know, she`s not alone. It`s our showbiz special report, “Prisoners Of Fame.”

Angelina Jolie, Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan are so, so famous they are practically prisoners of their own fame. Paparazzi surround them everywhere they go. But should we feel sorry for them or is this just the price they have to pay for superstar status? It`s our showbiz special report, “Prisoners Of Fame.”

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WENTWORTH MILLER, ACTOR: We`ve got a problem.

ANDERSON: On Fox`s “Prison Break,” Wentworth Miller`s character goes to extremes to free his wrongly convicted brother. Talk about drama. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, for some stars, there`s no escape from their own prison, a prison built on their own fame. Britney Spears. Lindsay Lohan. Angelina, and Brad.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: A couple of the guys were doing the stakeout at Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt`s House in Malibu.

MAGGIE GALLANT, PUBLIC RELATIONS GURU: What makes them prisoners of fame is they can`t go anywhere. Not a single move they make is not chronicled on camera.

ANDERSON: Public relations guru Maggie Gallant tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT the jail doors in the prison of fame are getting tougher to breakout of.

GALLANT: We are seeing examples of extreme fame where celebrities become the prey. They are being hunted by the paparazzi. And when your children can`t leave a particular area when they can`t leave their school, when you can`t - are not free to grab a cup of coffee, you are a prisoner because the price for these photos is at an all-time high.

ANDERSON: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt know all too well about being hunted. Wherever they travel around the world, and they do a lot of that, the paparazzi are always hot on their trail. Jolie tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT the constant swarm of photographers made working on her film “A Mighty Heart” particularly tough.

ANGELINA JOLIE, ACTRESS: It was hardest for Brad. He was there with the kids and taking care of the kids. And they were very limited on where they could go. And it`s hard to be stuck in a tiny little place with three children and trying to entertain them for two months while mom is working. So it was difficult, and for that it made me sad when I`d see my kids kind of trapped. And I`ve been wanting them to just be able to go for walks and go meet people and do things. And it was impossible there.

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, POP STAR: If you live in Los Angeles and you are traveling around Hollywood, you can expect to have your picture taken at some point.

ANDERSON: Justin Timberlake is another star who knows what it`s like to be a prisoner of his own fame. Justin tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT the paparazzi, who are almost like prison guards, sometimes go too far.

TIMBERLAKE: My thing is when things are muttered or yelled at or you feel like your space is encroached upon for the sake of getting a picture of you looking uncomfortable, that`s when I feel like it`s overstepped the lines.

ANDERSON: But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that some feel the stars should just quit their belly aching. Radio talk show host and former child star Danny Bonaduce tells us stars who complain about the intense spotlight need to just shut up.

DANNY BONADUCE, FORMER CHILD STAR: Everybody has every right to any part of me, or them that they want, because I sold myself to you. I do it on purpose. If you want to come up on me and ask me anything, say anything you want, you have that right because I sold myself to you and you bought and I`m grateful.

ANDERSON: Bonaduce may be grateful, but what about stars like Lindsay Lohan who couldn`t even go to rehab without prying long lenses trying to get a glimpse of her. Or Britney Spears who can`t go anywhere without her paparazzi prison guards following her? But some stars actually get addicted to the prison they are in. Dr. Drew Pinsky has done extensive research on celebrities and fame.

DR. DREW PINSKY, HOST, VH1`S “CELEBRITY REHAB”: It somehow rules them and runs out of control. I think it`s more of an issue of them being almost addicted to it. There`s people crawling into their lives, crawling into their personal lives, and it`s uncomfortable. It`s very uncomfortable for them. Yet, still, they tend to flirt with it and tend to miss it when it`s not there.

ANDERSON: Still, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, stars like Britney could do a thing or two to escape their prison.

GALLANT: Celebrities can avoid by being a prisoners of fame by, number one, not going to hot spots where paparazzi are camped out every day. Number two, don`t do a reality show. Once you invite the cameras into your home to chronicle your every move, they are going to want to continue to do so. Number three, wear underwear.

PINSKY: There is no doubt in my mind that the superstars of this world could develop a normal life. But you, as the individual, must make that the priority. Not going around saving the world, not being bigger than life. Not flirting with the paparazzi but quietly living a normal, simple life.
ANDERSON: A normal, simple life, the key that could become their get out of jail free card.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

There it is!!!
Poor Brad!!!
Not only does Angelina have him totally püssy-whỉpped, she has sucked the life right out of him through his poor little peċker.

1218 wendy from oz :

Thanks for posting Wendy. Sometimes reading negative comments on threads like this we forget that there is a whole world with different opinions. Please continue. Just because someone does not respond right away does not mean your comments aren’t being read.

The Departed is more than likely a metaphor of those who were murdered on 911. It followed Fight Club which is more than likely a trailer for the 911 attacks and is about the neocon/Jinsa collusion in the attacks, Jinsa being the mastermind, a member of Jinsa likely being the Norton character who won’t accept responsibility for his actions and does not have a split personality.

This isn’t Old Yeller. Don’t you just wanna Scream? It’s not a thriller as much as it is about terrorism and an inside job.

Maybe backing out of The Devils’ Own was about not liking to work with devil-worshippers or people who believe in fascism and stealing.