Studio wants Crowe for Pitt 'Play' part

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- Universal Pictures is courting Russell Crowe to take over the role Brad Pitt recently vacated in the U.S. film version of the U.K miniseries, "State of Play."

Crowe is expected to make his decision early this week, Variety.com reported Monday.

Pitt left the project last week because of differences regarding the movie's shooting script.

The movie studio said the actor violated a pay-or-play commitment and is reportedly considering suing him. Pitt's camp said he was essentially forced out of a movie he wanted to do because the studio wouldn't wait for the writers' strike to be resolved so a rewrite could be done on the script, the trade paper said.

If a replacement isn't found and production on the film doesn't start soon, Universal could risk losing some of the movie's remaining stars who have other projects lined up after "Play."

Edward Norton, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright Penn and Jason Bateman are also set to star in the thriller.