We admit it. The film buff in us yelped a little (and not with enthusiasm) when HBO Films elected Oscar-nominated ginger Julianne Moore to play noodle noggin vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin in a new TV film. Of course, that was before we got our first look at the Freckleface Strawberry author in character as the moose-shootin’ mother from Alaska.
Dowdy Updo? Check.
Red blazer and thin-framed glasses? You betcha.
“I Can See Russia From My Backyard” point-and-smile pose? Double check.
Think Tina Fey would approve?
On Wednesday, HBO released the first snap of Moore in the upcoming made-for-TV movie Game Change, which follows John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign from when he chose then-Alaska governor Palin as his running mate through their defeat in the general election that November. Julianne is a deadringer for Sarah in the flick, which is based on the bestselling book by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin.
Game Change will be directed by Jay Roach and written by Danny Strong, who previously teamed up for HBO’s Emmy-winning Ripped-From-the-Headlines political drama, Recount. Ed Harris has been cast as McCain. Melissa Farman, who also appeared in HBO’s Temple Grandin, has been cast as Palin’s then-18-year-old daughter Bristol, who famously announced her unplanned pregnancy during the election.
Game Change will premiere later this year.
