HBO has tapped Oscar-nominated actor Ed Harris to topline its original movie "Empire Falls," based on Richard Russo's best-selling novel.

Also joining the A-list cast of the project are Oscar winner Helen Hunt and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

They join previously announced Oscar winners Paul Newman, who also is executive producing, and his wife, Joanne Woodward.

The project, a comedic look at blue-collar life in the depressed Maine mill town of Empire Falls, centers on Miles Roby (Harris), a decent fortysomething guy stuck running Empire Grill, the town's most popular eatery, for 20 years.

Hunt, in her first TV role since the NBC comedy "Mad About You" wrapped in 1999, will play Roby's self-absorbed soon-to-be-former wife, who is determined to find herself a new man after losing 50 pounds.

In a flashback, Hoffman will play Charlie Mayne, with whom Roby's deceased mother once had an affair.

Newman plays Roby's ne'er-do-well father, while Woodward plays the controlling and manipulative owner of Empire Grill.

Fred Schepisi is directing the film, expected to begin production next month, from a script by Russo. Newman is executive producing with Marc Platt and Scott Steindorff.

Harris has been nominated for an Oscar four times, most recently this year for "The Hours."

The actor, onscreen in "Masked and Anonymous," next appears in "The Human Stain" and "Radio." He is repped by CAA and manager Neil Koenigsberg.

CAA-repped Hunt, who won an Oscar in 1998 for "As Good as It Gets," received four Emmys for her starring role on "Mad About You."

Paradigm-repped Hoffman's recent credits include the features "25th Hour" and "Punch-Drunk Love." He next appears in "Cold Mountain" and "Captured."

HBO declined comment Wednesday.