Ellen Burstyn to Star Opposite Sigourney Weaver in USA's POLITICAL ANIMALS

Oscar(R), Emmy(R), Tony(R), Golden Globe(R) and BAFTA Award winner Ellen Burstyn ("Big Love," "Requiem for a Dream") joins the star studded cast of USA Network's provocative original series POLITICAL ANIMALS, from Warner Horizon Television. Starring Sigourney Weaver ("Avatar"), Ciarán Hinds ("Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"), Carla Gugino ("Entourage"), James Wolk ("Shameless"), Sebastian Stan ("Gossip Girl") and Brittany Ishibashi ("The Mentalist"), the six-hour event drama from acclaimed television and film producers Greg Berlanti ("Brothers & Sisters") and Laurence Mark ("Julie & Julia" ) is slated for the network's blockbuster summer lineup.

Burstyn will star as Margaret Barrish, mother to current Secretary of State Elaine Barrish Hammond (Weaver). A tough Chicago broad and one-time Vegas showgirl, Margaret's biting tongue and sharp wit haven't softened despite her daughter's position and she's the first one to whip open a bottle of booze to help her through a political evening.

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. Sigourney Weaver stars as former first lady and current Secretary of State Elaine Barrish Hammond who - in the wake of a divorce from her philandering ex-husband (Hinds) - attempts to keep her family together while simultaneously dealing with crises of the State Department and the hungry DC journalist (Gugino) who is bent on destroying her career.

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 Network is seen in 115 million U.S. homes. USA is a leader in scripted programming with a stable of originals including POLITICAL ANIMALS, SUITS, NECESSARY ROUGHNESS, WHITE COLLAR, ROYAL PAINS, BURN NOTICE, PSYCH, COVERT AFFAIRS, COMMON LAW, FAIRLY LEGAL and IN PLAIN SIGHT. The network offers 52 weeks of live television with WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW and is home to the best in blockbuster theatrical films, a broad portfolio of acquired series and entertainment events. USA is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal. The award-winning website is located at www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.

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