When HBO airs "Game Change," a made-for-TV movie based on the popular book of the same name on the 2008 campaign, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) won't be watching.
"This new movie that comes out, (people) ask me if I'm gonna watch it," he said to Republican activists Saturday according to the Los Angeles Times. "I tell them it'll be a cold day in Gila Bend, Arizona," referring to a hot desert town that sometimes appears on national weather maps.
McCain made the same quip a few weeks ago when asked on CNBC about the movie, which premieres March 10. McCain is played by Ed Harris.
McCain's daughter, Meghan McCain, also plans on skipping the movie. "Oh my Lord have mercy, Game Change!" she said on MSNBC recently. "Who at HBO got my address and invited me to the premiere of 'Game Change?"
The movie is based on a book by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann that takes a look inside the behind-the-scenes drama of the 2008 campaign. At least based on trailers, the movie focuses on McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as vice president, whereas the book also chronicles the Democratic campaigns.
Current and former Palin aides -- none of whom have seen the movie yet -- lashed out at the movie's depiction of her in a recent conference call. Filmmakers have said that they aimed for accuracy and conducted 25 interviews in addition to using material from the book.
Palin recently said that she was unconcerned about the movie. "I'm really not concerned about an HBO movie based on a false narrative when there are so many other things to be concerned about," she said.