Edward Norton has left the Kevin Macdonald drama State of Play due to a prior commitment. According to Variety, Ben Affleck is in talks to replace the actor.

Brad Pitt left the film earlier in the year, eliciting legal action from Universal Pictures. Due to the delay in filming that it caused, Norton has had to exit so that he could make the start date of his independent comedy Leaves of Grass.

Affleck, replacing Norton, will play a fast-rising politician who is caught up in a murder conspiracy. Russell Crowe replaced Pitt, taking on the role of a journalist who leads a newspaper's investigation into the killing. The film will begin shooting in January.

State of Play was released April 17th, 2009 and stars Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren, Robin Wright, Jason Bateman, Jeff Daniels, Michael Berresse. The film is directed by Kevin Macdonald.