State of Play is a political thriller starring Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren, and Rachel McAdams, based on a BBC miniseries about a journalist (Crowe) investigating the murder of a congressmen’s (Affleck) mistress.  Sounds, uh… thrilling.  Adapting British shows is a great idea. I mean, they have such amazing TV over there.  I can’t wait for the next one, about an older comedian hilariously dressed in drag who gets yelled at by Gordon Ramsey.  Can his be-wigged lawyer save the day?  Only time will tell!  *cue 10 minutes of canned laughter*

Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren, and Robin Wright Penn will join the cast of State of Play, which already includes Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Jason Bateman. 

That’s three generations of hot blonde chicks (NWS here, here, and here, respectively).  I’m not gonna lie, the British miniseries this is based on looks pretty much like Law and Order, but I’d watch this cast paint a house (of course, then I’d demand my $10 back but still secretly wish Brad Pitt was my true father).  

McAdams will play a reporter in the middle of a career-making story, as her newspaper investigates the death of the mistress of a fast-rising congressman. Mirren will play the newspaper’s steely editor, a role undertaken by Bill Nighy [Nighy Nighy Nighy, can't you see/sometimes your pockmarks just hypnotize me] in the original mini. Wright Penn will play the congressman’s estranged wife. She becomes romantically involved with the pol’s former campaign manager (Pitt), who leads the newspaper’s investigative team. Norton plays the congressman and Bateman plays the other lead reporter.

Hey, anyone else want to trade Jessica Alba for Rachel McAdams? If you ask me, she’s hotter, and has the added benefit of actually being able to act.  It’s nice when someone can actually do the job they’re paid for instead of just looking good.  I mean, I’m pretty sexy myself, but you don’t see me performing open heart surgery. At least not successfully. [via Variety]