Carla Gugino Joins USA's 'Political Animals'

USA announced that Carla Gugino ("Watchmen," "American Gangster," "Entourage"), fresh off her acclaimed run on Broadway in "Road to Mecca," is set to star opposite Sigourney Weaver ("Avatar") in USA Network's provocative six-hour original series POLITICAL ANIMALS, from Warner Horizon Television. Gugino will star as Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper reporter Susan Berg, a hungry DC journalist bent on destroying the career of former First Lady and newly appointed Secretary of State Elaine Barrish (Weaver). 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") and also stars James Wolk ("Lonestar," "Happy Endings") and Brittany Ishibashi ("Parenthood," FAIRLY LEGAL).

Pulling back the curtain on persuasive public speeches and stirring campaign ads, the fictional look at a former first family exposes a dynasty weakened by political ambition, lust and greed. In the wake of a recent divorce from her philandering ex-husband - who is still as much in love with her as with the office he once held - and the loss of the presidential nomination, Barrish (Weaver) attempts to keep her family together while simultaneously dealing with crises of the State Department and the dogged Berg (Gugino).

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.