Crowe replaces Ledger in Australian film

Los Angeles: Hollywood actor Russell Crowe will step into the shoes of late Heath Ledger in upcoming Australian film ‘Dirt Music’.

Ledger, who passed away in 2008, had originally signed up to star in the film adaptation of Tim Winton`s novel alongside Rachel Weisz, but he later quit the production in order to tackle the role of the Joker in Batman movie ‘The Dark Knight’. Now, director Phillip Noyce has confirmed the film will be moving forward with Crowe in the lead, reports imdb.com. "We were all set to go with Heath and Rachel Weisz. We had the money at that point. And then Heath decided to play the Joker which you couldn`t argue with. And then it just took a while to find someone else to play (the lead role of) Luther," he added. The movie will mark Crowe`s first appearance in an Australian film in more than a decade. IANS