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.

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 and 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 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.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos

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