MATTHEW MODINE JOINS THE CAST OF WEEDS' THIRD SEASON, PREMIERING MONDAY, AUGUST 13 ON SHOWTIME

Zooey Deschanel & Carrie Fisher to Make Guest Appearances in the Hit Series from Lionsgate

Acclaimed actor Matthew Modine will join the cast of SHOWTIME's top-rated comedy series WEEDS for its third season, which premieres Monday, August 13th at 10pm ET/PT, it was announced today. Modine will be featured in at least 10 of the season's 15 episodes and will portray Sullivan Groff, the mysterious land developer for Majestic, a new Christian, mega-church development being built right near Agrestic. Groff and Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker) will strike up a mutually beneficial business arrangement, but under the watchful, busybody eye of Celia (Elizabeth Perkins). Noted director Martha Coolidge (Material Girls, "Sex & the City") will direct Modine in his premiere episode of the hit series, produced by Lionsgate in association with Tilted Productions.

From his roles in films such as Vision Quest, Short Cuts, Full Metal Jacket, and Gross Anatomy, to his small screen turns, most recently in "The Bedford Diaries," Modine has enjoyed a diverse career in film, stage and television. He earned Emmy� and Golden Globe� nominations for his work in the acclaimed mini-series "And the Band Played On," and a Golden Globe� nomination for "What the Deaf Man Heard." He made his directorial debut for SHOWTIME with the critically acclaimed film "If.Dog..Rabbit," in which he co-starred opposite John Hurt and Laura Dern. He also directed an off-Broadway theatrical production of "12 Angry Men," starring F. Murray Abraham, Wallace Shawn and Seymour Cassell.

Also guest starring this season on WEEDS in single-episode cameos are Zooey Deschanel, reprising her role as Andy's quirky ex-girlfriend Kat (airing August 13) and Carrie Fisher (airing August 27) as Arlene, Celia's divorce attorney.

One of the most buzzed-about series on television, WEEDS follows a suburban mother (Parker in her Golden Globe�-winning portrayal of Nancy Botwin) who deals marijuana in order to make ends meet after her husband dies unexpectedly. The show, which earned a Golden Globe � nomination for Best Comedy Series, also stars Emmy� nominee Elizabeth Perkins, Tonye Patano, Romany Malco, Justin Kirk, Hunter Parrish, Alexander Gould, Andy Milder, Allie Grant and Kevin Nealon.