'Game Change': Ed Harris to Play John McCain, Joins Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin in HBO Series

How do you top casting Oscar-nominated Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin? How about casting Oscar-nominated actor Ed Harris as John McCain?

Harris is the newest cast member to join the HBO project "Game Change." The TV movie will tell the story behind the 2008 presidential campaign on the Republican side, from the selection of Sarah Palin as McCain's VP to their eventual defeat in the November elections.

A couple of weeks back, we reported that Julianne Moore would be playing Palin, but the question of who would take the McCain role was up in the air. It's interesting that the casting team landed on their Palin before their McCain...I would figure the former would be a more difficult choice than the latter.

The movie, which is based off a book of the same name, will be directed by Jay Roach. Roach has a long list of comedies on his resumé, including the "Austin Powers" movies and the "Meet the Parents" series, and he also directed HBO's previous election-centered movie "Recount."

Though Roach has a background in comedy and satire, this project is looking as though it will be much more dramatic, especially considering the leads that have been chosen. Sure, Moore has made some hilarious appearances on "30 Rock," but both Moore and Harris are generally known for their dramatic skills.

After all, if "Game Change" was going to be a comedy, they probably would have just cast Tina Fey as Palin, wouldn't they?