Ciaran Hinds Joins Cast of USA Network's POLITICAL ANIMALS

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.