The state of “State of Play” is very much in question this week. The high profile political drama (and remake of a popular British mini-series) was set to re-team “Fight Club” enthusiasts Brad Pitt and Ed Norton up until a few days ago when word came down that Pitt wasn’t satisfied with the script.

But the project may not be dead just yet. Russell Crowe is reportedly considering stepping in. As for the rest of the cast, well I know Jason Bateman was primed for the shoot. Check out his detailed and curious description of his character when I chatted with him recently. Now if you believe Variety he’s just playing a reporter. But I’d much prefer to take Bateman’s perhaps questionable word. Read more…

Back away from that moldy plate of Thanksgiving leftovers, and turn your attention instead to these tasty treats. Today, we’re stuffing you with news on Disney curse words, “Star Trek” setbacks, and an Indiana Jones cameo that might leave you longing for your mashed potatoes.

- Uncle Walt, you may commence spinning. After the big weekend for “Enchanted,” controversy erupts over whether somebody snuck an F-bomb into the PG film. Decide for yourself here: (/film)

- J.J. Abrams can’t give her all he’s got, Captain! Striking screenwriter John August can’t scribble a word on his various movie scripts, but that won’t stop him from blogging a revealing anecdote about the “Star Trek” shooting difficulties. (JohnAugust.com)

- Wanna see three of the most powerful movie personalities in Hollywood acting stupid? No, I’m not talking about “Fred Claus.” Get ready for some enviro-tips from the Green Team! Oh, and no way is this thing safe for work. (Funny or Die)

- “Six Feet Under” fans, rejoice! Lauren Ambrose joins “Where the Wild Things Are.” (Dark Horizons)

- Is it weird that Jessica Alba’s BFF is also her doppelganger? The fantasy of double-Alba action is a mere click away. (Just Jared)

- Spielberg revisits a few old friends for a strange “Indy 4″ cameo. (MovieWeb)

I’ve used this space before to write about how, out of all the characters in “Harry Potter” who kick the bucket, it was the death of Dobby the House Elf that hit me the hardest.

“What!” Toby Jones exclaimed in mock seriousness when MTV recently asked him about the character, who he voices. “He DIES?!?”

Ok, very funny Mr. Jones. But, seriously, not to get all Dr. Phil on you here, but how does that make you feel? Read more…

Last year’s high-adrenaline Jason Statham action flick “Crank” wasn’t exactly “Citizen Kane” (hell, it wasn’t even “Citizen Ruth”), but even the haters have to give debut writer/directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor credit for trying really, really hard. If that enthusiasm could eventually translate into expertise, the stylish duo will be worth watching - and their currently-filming, high-concept thriller boasts another promising gimmick.

“It’s a sci-fi thriller set in the future,” “Matchstick Men” star Allison Lohman explained of “Game”, a new flick that features the actress alongside Gerard Butler, John Leguizamo and Kyra Sedgwick. “It’s similar to ‘SimCity’; I think we’ve all played that.” Read more…

Whether re-makes, re-imaginings and sequels are worth their time and effort is a battle that has raged among movie fans ever since D.W. Griffith decided to cash in on the success of “Birth of a Nation” with 1916’s “Fall of a Nation.” Yep, they’ve been around that long.

Every actor has to make up their own mind on how they feel about such matters, and one of our favorites is Natalie Portman, who has some interesting thoughts on the matter.

“When something works you don’t touch it,” Portman explained to us recently. “You try to create something new that’s positive.” (If you want more Natalie, our full “Rough Cut” interview with Portman is viewable here.

As such, she insisted that she’ll never star in a long-rumored sequel to her first film, the ass-kicking classic “The Professional.” “I really love that film,” she added. “And I would work with [director] Luc Besson again, in a second, but [not on a sequel].” Read more…