Dick Cheney Miniseries Is Latest Political Play at HBO

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The pay cabler, who earlier this month cast Julianne Moore as former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in its upcoming telepic Game Change, confirmed Monday that it has optioned Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency for a miniseries.

Based on the best-seller by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Barton Gellman, the mini revolves around Richard Bruce Cheney, dating back to his tenure as part of the Nixon administration and becoming the youngest chief of staff under President Ford, through his tenure with George H.W. Bush and his son's presidency.

Producers said the mini will focus on Cheney's "single-minded pursuit of enhanced power for the presidency [that] was unprecedented in the nation's history."

Spring Creek Productions and Fair Catch Productions' Paula Weinstein, who produced HBO's Emmy-winning mini Recount, will produce Angler with Jeffrey Levine. Frontline's David Fanning and Michael Kirk and Fair Catch Productions' David Kennedy will executive produce.

Rick Cleveland (The West Wing, Six Feet Under) is set to adapt Angler, a Spring Creek Production in association with WGBH/Frontline and Fair Catch Productions.

Game Change follows John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign and is based on the bests-selling book of the same name by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin and will be directed and produced by Jay Roach and penned by Recount's Danny Strong, who will co-exec produce.

Tina Fey won an Emmy in 2008 for her guest starring turn as Palin on NBC's Saturday Night Live.