It's a tricky thing to dramatize as recent and hugely public an event as the 2008 presidential election, and attempting to do could result in a bunch of overcooked impressions and unintentional goofiness.  To avoid that fate, the makers of the upcoming HBO movie Game Change hired the very best actors to portray Arizona Senator John McCain and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, and you can see both Ed Harris and Julianne Moore in action for the first time via a new teaser trailer. 

It's got little snippets of four-time Oscar nominee Harris as McCain sprinkled throughout, building to a big reveal of fellow four-time Oscar nominee Moore as Palin, but the glue holding it all together is two-time Oscar nominee Woody Harrelson as McCain's campaign strategist and adviser Steve Schmidt.

Just as the character's signature catchphrases had inevitably disappeared from the popular vernacular, with almost a decade since his last appearance, Austin Powers will return.  According to Drew McWeeny at Hitfix, Mike Meyers has officially signed on to bring back his most famous creation in a third sequel to Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.

The first promotional image from Game Change showed that Julianne Moore makes for a fitting Sarah Palin, and now our first look at Ed Harris in the film demonstrates his ability to channel Arizona Senator John McCain.  Both four-time Oscar nominees are playing the central figures in the HBO movie from director Jay Roach.  Palin's arguably more easily imitable figure, but Harris is the spitting image of the presidential nominee in this photo, which debuted t EW.  Check out Harris on the campaign trail right here, right about now.

Will Ferrell is the current king of cinematic comedy, and as such, he stays very busy.  He's currently in the midst of a television run on NBC's The Office as Dunder Mifflin's interim Regional Manager Deangelo Vickers, and he's starring in the independent comedy drama Everything Must Go, along with Rebecca Hall, Stephen Root, and Glenn Howerton.  While discussing that film earlier today at a press conference, the erstwhile Ron Burgundy discussed his upcoming projects, offering clarification on the rumored sequels to Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Zoolander, and Step Brothers, as well as the political comedy Southern Rivals.

Perhaps it's the catchphrases, or maybe the winking, but Sarah Palin is one of those public figures that makes for easy Halloween costumes and sketch comedy.  Her essence is almost a caricature of itself, and as such, you might not immediately think that you'd need a four-time Oscar nominee to play her, but in the HBO movie Game Change, Julianne Moore will portay the former Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska and 2008 Vice Presidential candidate.  Wondering what Moore looks like in full Palin regalia?  Take a peek at this first image of her in character, courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter.

Without Zach Galifianakis, The Hangover would not have worked.  His strange energy is the centerpiece of that film, and I expect that will be true of the sequel as well.  Outside of that comedy franchise, however, audiences seem already exhausted by Galifianakis.  As such, it might be to his benefit that he's bowing out of R.I.P.D. the supernatual buddy cop film in which he was to star alongside Ryan Reynolds.

HBO's Game Change, a chronicling of the 2008 Presidential Election, seems to be casting up along partisan lines, starting with the Republican campaign.  First, we heard that four-time Oscar nominee Julianne Moore would play Vice Presidential candidate, glasses-wearer, and grizzly mom Sarah Palin, then yesterday brought the news that Ed Harris, another four-time Oscar nominee, would play her running mate, Arizona Senator and Presidential candidate John McCain.  Now, Deadline reports that two-time Oscar nominee Woody Harrelson is set to play McCain's senior campaign strategist and adviser Steve Schmidt. 

Last we heard of the casting on Game Change, the HBO movie about the 2008 presidential election, four-time Oscar nominee Julianne Moore had signed on to play former Alaska Governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.  According to Deadline, Palin's running mate will also be portrayed by a quadruple Oscar nominee.  Ed Harris is set to play Arizona Senator John McCain for director Jay Roach.

Tiny Fey's Saturday Night Live interpretation of 2008 vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin is the most recognizable take on the former mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, but the 30 Rock star is about to be in good company, as Oscar nominated actress Julianne Moore has signed on to portray Palin in the HBO movie Game Change, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 

Jay Roach, the director responsible for the Austin Powers franchise, as well as Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers, will direct Game Change for HBO Films.  The movie will be based on "Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime", a non-fiction account of the 2008 presidential election by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin.