Jason Bateman has joined the American remake of the British television series State of Play alongside Brad Pitt and Edward Norton.

Kevin Macdonald, The Last King of Scotland (Filmstalker review), is directing the adaptation of the political thriller that follows a newspaper investigation of the murder of a congressman's girlfriend, Edward Norton plays the congressman. Brad Pitt plays the former campaign manager of the politician who pushes forward the investigation and Bateman will play one of the journalists on the case.

The news from Variety certainly shows that Jason Bateman is rising fast in Hollywood again, if you chart his rise the the Hollywood fore began with The Break-Up, but really kicked in with his great role in Smokin' Aces (Filmstalker review).

State of Play marks another strong role in a run of great parts he's had, and I'm hopeful that the film turns out a very strong political thriller, perhaps passing the strength of the original British television series.