Will Ferrell in Sydney for 'The Campaign' red carpet event at Fox Studios

Plot...

In order to gain influence over their North Carolina district, two CEOs seize an opportunity to oust long-term congressman Cam Brady by putting up a rival candidate. Their man: naive Marty Huggins, director of the local Tourism Center.

Tonight 'The Campaign' enjoyed it's Sydney, Australia premiere at Entertainment Quarter - Fox Studios, Moore Park, Sydney.

'The Campaign', about two rival politicians who will stop at nothing to get elected, is directed by Jay Roach, the man behind comedies Austin Powers and Borat, as well as more serious political efforts The Recount and last year's Sarah Palin biopic Game Change.

Even though Ferrell had become known for his impressions of George W. Bush on Saturday Night Live over the years, and his 2009 Broadway show You're Welcome America: A Final Night With George W. Bush - he says the former US president didn't influence his character in The Campaign, the venal, preening Cam Brady.

"We stole some things from actual political candidates and their behaviour but I don't know if that really informed this," he says. "The hair is really a tribute to John Edwards - he had the most beautiful hair in politics."

With 'The Campaign' campaign just about behind them, Ferrell and Galifianakis will go their separate ways. The Hangover Part III starts shooting in September, and although Galifianakis hasn't had a chance yet to look over the most recent iteration of the script, he thinks he and Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and company will be doing this one in Mexico. "Maybe. I think."

Meanwhile, Ferrell and his frequent writing and directing partner, Adam McKay, are readying their own sequel, Anchorman 2. Yes, after a long, long hiatus (the original was released in 2004), Ron Burgundy returns. They'll shoot early next year, when Steve Carell and Paul Rudd are available to reprise their roles.

"We're working on the script now," Ferrell reports. "Adam and I were philosophically just always resistant to the sequel thing. There are all these original ideas out there, but then you watch people make sequels and it seems like they're having a good time. So we caved."

"I'm looking forward to being in Anchorman 2," Galifianakis chimes in. "I got your text about being in it, thank you. . . . And I'm the lead?"

"That was a mistake," Ferrell says. "I was sending that to Zac Efron, and somehow it got sent to you."

"Is he nice?" says Galifianakis.

"He's great," Ferrell says.

The Campaign opens on August 9.

Director: Jay Roach Writers: Chris Henchy (screenplay), Shawn Harwell (screenplay) Stars: Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis and Jason Sudeikis

Websites

The Campaign thecampaignmovie.warnerbros.com

Entertainment Quarter www.entertainmentquarter.com.au

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Eva Rinaldi Photography