Another actor is leaving “State of Play.” Edward Norton who is being replaced by Ben Affleck, if talks come to an agreement.

 As I mention at Screenhead before Thanksgiving. Brad Pitt left the film because of script conflicts. Apparently, Norton is leaving because of scheduling conflicts. He has another film commitment — “Leaves of Grass,” an independent comedy.

“State of Play” goes before the lens in Mid-November to January of 2008.

Russell Crowe replaced Pitt. Now, the studio is solving Norton’s exit with Affleck.

If all goes well, Affleck plays a fast-rising politician embroiled in a murder conspiracy. Crowe plays a journalist who orchestrates a newspaper’s investigation into the murder.

The cast still includes Robin Wright Penn, Jason Bateman and Helen Mirren,