Norton, Pitt reteam for 'State of Play'

'Fight Club' duo to star in Universal adaptation

By MICHAEL FLEMING

Edward Norton is getting back in the ring with his "Fight Club" partner Brad Pitt.

Duo will star in "State of Play," Universal Pictures' adaptation of the British miniseries. Kevin Macdonald ("The Last King of Scotland") is directing the Matthew Michael Carnahan script.

Norton will play a congressman whose speedy political rise is threatened by an investigation into the death of his mistress. Pitt plays a politico-turned-journalist whose relationship with the solon is compromised when he oversees his newspaper's investigation into the murder and develops a relationship with the pol's estranged wife.

Project has been a high priority for U since the studio won an auction for rights to the six-hour mini written by Paul Abbott. Though Pitt has long been attached, he had been courted for other pics while Tony Gilroy worked on a rewrite. Pitt recently committed after that script was turned in, and the project is on track for a November start.

Andrew Hauptman will produce with Working Title partners Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner. Abbott is exec producer.

Norton will begin shooting "State of Play" days after he wraps "The Incredible Hulk" for Marvel Studios, with Universal releasing the Louis Leterrier-directed superhero film on June 13.

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