Kevin Macdonald ("The Last King of Scotland") directs a script from Matthew Michael Carnahan ("The Kingdom," "Lions for Lambs") and Tony Gilroy (the "Bourne" trilogy, "Michael Clayton") for the Universal Pictures/Working Title adaptation of the BBC miniseries.

The leading ladies join previously announced cast members Brad Pitt, Edward Norton and Jason Bateman in the work that follows a congressman (Norton) and his former campaign manager (Pitt) — now a journalist — who are at odds after the death of a politician's research assistant and mistress. Shooting is slated to begin in November.

Mirren will take on the role of a newspaper editor — played in the original series by actor Bill Nighy (The Vertical Hour, "Pirates of the Caribbean").

Onstage Mirren has been seen in Broadway's Dance of Death and A Month in the Country. The Academy and Emmy Award winner is also known for her (both big and small) screen work in "The Queen," "Gosford Park," "The Madness of King George," "Elizabeth I," "The Passion of Ayn Rand" and "Prime Suspect."

The actress next stars in "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" and "Inkheart."