Russell Crowe is in 11th-hour talks to take the lead role in State of Play, following Brad Pitt's exit last week. Variety reports that the Oscar-winning actor is the favoured choice of executives at Universal, the studio bankrolling the project. Crowe is currently starring in the Universal thriller American Gangster and is also in pre-production on the revisionist Robin Hood drama Nottingham, another picture for the studio.

A Hollywood remake of a six-part BBC miniseries, State of Play focuses on the investigation into the death of a political reporter. Crowe would take the role of journalist Cal McCaffrey, alongside a cast that includes Edward Norton, Helen Mirren and Robin Wright Penn.

The film was originally to have begun shooting on November 15th, but was reportedly held up due to Pitt's ongoing concerns over the screenplay. Pitt finally confirmed his departure on Wednesday. The film-makers are still hoping to begin principal photography later this week.

Should negotiations with Crowe break down, other possible names in the frame include Tom Hanks and Johnny Depp. Both actors are currently at a loose end. Hanks's starring role in the Dan Brown adaptation Angels and Demons is now on hold, while Depp's turn in the Mira Nair drama Shantaram has similarly been postponed.