Dylan McDermott, the Meanest "Campaign" Manager

Golden Globe-winner Dylan McDermott (TV’s “The Practice,” “American Horror Story”) stars in Warner Bros.’ new comedy “The Campaign” as Tim Wattley aka The Terminator, the baddest, toughest, meanest and winning-est campaign manager who ever whipped a candidate into shape for success.

In the film, as Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) brazens through an embarrasing sex scandal with his usual flair, the seasoned politico prepares to segue unopposed into his fifth term in office. But this time, to his astonishment, a challenger appears out of nowhere: local tour operator Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis) — a dumpy, soft-spoken, cardigan-wrapped, fanny-pack-wearing oddball with zero political experience. As Election Day closes in, the two are locked in a dead heat, with insults quickly escalating to injury until all they care about is burying each other.

On Marty’s side is political operative Tim Wattley. “Political operatives and consultants are like samurai warriors,” director Jay Roach explains. “Tim Wattley is a dark, Rasputin-like character—like an assassin who just happens to be a political consultant. He’s one of those guys who work below the surface and get passed down from one administration to another for whoever needs them, left or right, and is willing to pay for their services. They’re essentially hired guns, but instead of people, they assassinate character. And Dylan is great in the film. He brings some odd chemistry to the mix, which is exactly what we wanted.”

Will Ferrell Vows to Get Elected at All Costs in "The Campaign"

Will Ferrell stars as long-term Congressman Cam Brady who commits a major public gaffe before an upcoming election, in Warner Bros.' “The Campaign,” a mud-slinging, back-stabbing, home-wrecking comedy.

When Brady's scandal exposed his vulnerability, a pair of unscrupulous power brokers plots to put up a rival candidate and gain influence over their North Carolina district. Their man: naïve Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis), director of the local Tourism Center. At first, Marty appears to be the unlikeliest possible choice but, with the help of his new benefactors’ support and a cutthroat campaign manager, he soon becomes a contender who gives the charismatic Cam plenty to worry about.

May the Best Loser Win in "The Campaign"

The election process in America can sometimes get so wild, you just have to laugh…especially if you’re Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis or admitted political news junkie Jay Roach, director/producer of Warner Bros.' irreverent new comedy “The Campaign.”

Known for “Meet the Parents” and the Austin Powers send-ups, Roach also successfully addressed the American political system from a more serious perspective in HBO’s acclaimed dramas “Recount” and “Game Change,” and has come to believe that sometimes the best way to confront the subject is head-on, with humor.

“I think comedy is the correct response to politics these days. At least it gives you something to laugh about and makes the reality of it easier to swallow, whereas if you just watch the news it can be pretty scary,” Roach offers. “Looking at some of today’s election campaigns, I don’t know if this is what our founding fathers had in mind.”

Luckily, Roach was able to exorcise his anxieties in a big way in “The Campaign,” with Ferrell and Galifianakis, who also served as producers on the film, and whom he calls “two of the funniest, smartest guys on Earth. Will and Zach go all the way as rival candidates who have the resources to completely destroy each other by pulling out every form of shady campaign strategy you can imagine, every sleazy video and shameless dirty trick. And it quickly degenerates from there.”