Movie News

Queen Helen set for State Of Play

Wed 26 Sep 4:20 PM

Helen Mirren is set to return to the cinema in State Of Play, the political thriller that was a huge success on the small screen five years ago.

|It looks like she's landed yet another high-powered role for a woman too, to sit alongside her performances as both Queen Elizabeth and TV's Jane Tennison in Prime Suspect dramas. The Oscar winning Queen of the big screen will play the film's newspaper editor. A part originally taken by Bill Nighy in the TV drama.

She's due to appear alongside Brad Pitt and Ed Norton, who are reuniting for the first time since working together in the cult hit Fight Club (and are also rumoured to be teaming up for another movie, the previously reported Fighter). They'll be playing the two lead roles as the ambitious politician and his investigative reporter friend (roles played by David Morrissey and John Simm on TV). If the plot sticks to the TV version it will also mean Helen Mirren is playing the part of Edward Norton's Mum!

Paul Abbot, who wrote and executive produced the TV series is executive producer on the film with Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner also producing. They're the founders and head honchos of Working Title films, the production company behind current the cinema hit, Atonement (amongst many others)

The film will be directed by Kevin MacDonald, director of the acclaimed Last King Of Scotland, and is aiming for a 2008 release.