LOS ANGELES, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- Russell Crowe has signed on to star in the U.S. big-screen version of the British mini-series "State of Play," it was reported Monday.

By filling in for Brad Pitt, who recently dropped out of the project, Crowe will help keep production on schedule, Variety.com reported.

Shooting on the political thriller, set to be directed by Kevin MacDonald, is slated to begin before the end of this year, the trade newspaper said.

Pitt's representatives said upon his departure that he wanted to make the film, but wasn't happy with the script.

Because of the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike, the screenplay could not be rewritten and if Universal had waited until after the work stoppage to make the picture, they could have lost some of their key players who have projects lined up after "State of Play."

Crowe joins a cast that includes Edward Norton, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman and Robin Wright Penn.