Jason Bateman Comes Out to 'Play'

Zap2It.com | September 24, 2007

Jason Bateman

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Film stars Edward Norton and Brad Pitt

Jason Bateman is set to join Brad Pitt and Edward Norton in the big screen adaptation of the British miniseries "State of Play."

Kevin Macdonald ("The Last King of Scotland") is directing the film, which is set up at Universal.

The original miniseries was scripted by Paul Abbott and directed by David Yates. Matthew Michael Carnahan took the first crack at the American script, which features Pitt as a former political operative who uses his connections to become a reporter. Things get complicated when he begins investigating a murder involving a rising congressman (Norton) and even has an affair with the politician's estranged wife.

Bateman will play another reporter trying to track down the big story, according to Variety.

Career resurrected by FOX's Emmy-winning "Arrested Development," Bateman is on a big screen tear. His fall includes co-starring roles in Peter Berg's "The Kingdom," Zach Helm's "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" and the Jason Reitman-directed dark comedy "Juno." Other upcoming films for Bateman include "Hancock" with Will Smith and Charlize Theron.