AceShowbiz -

Welcome to the "State of Play" for Edward Norton who has just signed on to star in the highly anticipated drama thriller, joining fellow actor Brad Pitt, his co-star in the 1999 "Fight Club" which is based on the Chuck Palahniuk's 1996 novel of the same name.

"State of Play," a political thriller based on the BBC miniseries of the same name, will see Norton portraying the role of a congress man whose speedy political rise is threatened by an investigation into the death of his mistress. The role was previously made famous by David Morrissey in Paul Abbott's original series.

As of Pitt, the hunk will take John Simm's role of a journalist and former friend of the politician who uncovers evidence of foul play in the woman's death, which may be linked to a wider conspiracy involving corruption of elected representatives by agents for the oil industry.

British TV helmer Kevin Macdonald of "The Last King of Scotland" has been hired to direct from a script written by Matthew Michael Carnahan, with film production scheduled to begin November later this year, once Norton has finished filming his latest big screen project "The Incredible Hulk."