Dec 19, 2007 - Edward Norton has followed Brad Pitt out the door. Norton is the latest cast member to exit State of Play, a dramatic movie set up at Universal to be directed by Kevin Macdonald. In early December, Russell Crowe stepped in to take over the role vacated by Brad Pitt. Pitt left the production citing concerns over the script. The ongoing Writers Guild strike prohibits any changes to the screenplay and rather than postpone production, Pitt left the project.

Norton's departure was due to a scheduling conflict. The actor had also committed to starring in and producing Leaves of Grass for director Tim Blake Nelson. The start date for State of Play had been pushed back to accommodate Crowe's schedule after he signed on to the film. That delay meant Norton could no longer play the role of a politician in State of Play. Ben Affleck will now take over the part.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter