Pitt set for State of Play movie

Pitt will play journalist Cal McCaffrey, portrayed by John Simm in the TV version of the political thriller, Abbott told BBC Five Live.

The writer, an executive producer on the film, said he had been surprised to speak to Pitt about the project after someone handed him a mobile phone.

"I wasn't actually sure he was still interested," Abbott said.

"I spoke to him on a Blackberry - I just went 'hello' because I wasn't expecting a conversation.

"And it was just somebody else going, 'Oh, somebody wants to talk to you', [they] hand me a Blackberry and it's Brad Pitt on the end."

State of Play is about a team of journalists investigating the mysterious death of a political researcher.

The BBC One original won a best actor Bafta for Bill Nighy, who played newspaper editor Cameron Foster, and further editing and sound honours.

Abbott's other TV successes include Clocking Off and Shameless.

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