CIARAN HINDS TO STAR IN USA NETWORK'S "POLITICAL ANIMALS," OPPOSITE SIGOURNEY WEAVER, CARLA GUGINO, JAMES WOLK, SEBASTIAN STAN AND BRITTANY ISHIBASHI

SIX-HOUR EVENT DRAMA SERIES FROM GREG BERLANTI, LAURENCE MARK AND WARNER HORIZON TELEVISION TO LAUNCH SUMMER 2012

NEW YORK - March 22, 2012 - Acclaimed actor Ciaran Hinds ("Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," "The Debt," "Munich," "Rome") has been set to star opposite Sigourney Weaver ("Avatar") in USA Network's provocative six-hour original series POLITICAL ANIMALS, from Warner Horizon Television. Hinds joins the talented cast including Carla Gugino ("Entourage"), James Wolk ("Lonestar"), Sebastian Stan ("Gossip Girl") and Brittany Ishibashi ("Parenthood"). Slated for the network's blockbuster summer lineup, the event drama comes from acclaimed television and film producers Greg Berlanti ("Brothers & Sisters," "Dirty Sexy Money," "Everwood") and Laurence Mark ("Dreamgirls," "Julie & Julia," "Jerry Maguire").

Hinds will star as Bud Hammond, the jovial ex-president of the United States and ex-husband of Elaine Barrish (Weaver). A gifted politician who was once loved by the American public, Bud has struggled since his divorce from Elaine, and his out-of-office antics have caused a tumble in his popularity. President Bud Hammond is still as much in love with his ex-wife as the office he once held and is eager to take on the role of elder statesman if Elaine calls on him.

Pulling back the curtain on persuasive public speeches and stirring campaign ads, the fictional look at a former first family exposes a dynasty fighting political adversaries while struggling with their own powerful demons. In the wake of a recent divorce from her philandering ex-husband and the loss of the presidential nomination, Barrish attempts to keep her family together while simultaneously dealing with crises of the State Department and the hungry DC journalist, Susan Berg (Gugino), who is bent on destroying her career.

Wolk stars as Douglas Hammond, the son of Barrish and the ex-president, who serves as his mother's chief of staff. Stan stars as T.J. Hammond, Douglas' fraternal twin and a lost soul who struggles with addiction. And Ishibashi stars as Douglas' fiancée, Anne Ogami.

POLITICAL ANIMALS is from Berlanti Productions and Laurence Mark Productions in association with Warner Horizon Television. Berlanti wrote and will direct the pilot and serves as executive producer of the series with Mark. Melissa Kellner Berman of Berlanti Productions will co-executive produce.

USA is cable's #1 network and a leader in scripted programming with ten original series: BURN NOTICE, COVERT AFFAIRS, FAIRLY LEGAL, IN PLAIN SIGHT, NECESSARY ROUGHNESS, PSYCH, ROYAL PAINS, SUITS, WHITE COLLAR and COMMON LAW launching this May.

Warner Horizon Television (WHTV) is one of the entertainment industry's leading producers of scripted series for the cable marketplace and primetime reality series for both network and cable. Founded in 2006, this second production entity allows the Warner Bros. Television Group to expand its programming offerings and explore creative options made possible under a new business model. WHTV's current unscripted series are The Voice for NBC, The Bachelor franchise - which includes The Bachelor, The Bachelorette and Bachelor Pad - for ABC and Randy Jackson Presents America's Best Dance Crew for MTV. Scripted programs from WHTV are Rizzoli & Isles and Dallas for TNT, Sullivan & Son for TBS, Pretty Little Liars and The Lying Game for ABC Family, Longmire for A&E and Political Animals for USA Network.

USA Network is the #1 network in all of basic cable and is seen in 102 million U.S. homes. A division of NBCUniversal, USA is the cable television leader in original series and is home to the best in blockbuster theatrical films, acquired television series and entertainment events. The award-winning USA website is located at www.usanetwork.com.

USA Network is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.