Hinds to co-star in 'Political Animals'

Northern Irish actor Ciaran Hinds is to play a former US president in the new television miniseries "Political Animals," USA Network said Friday. Hinds' film credits include "The Woman in Black," "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy," "There Will Be Blood" and "The Debt." He will star opposite Sigourney Weaver, Carla Gugino, James Wolk, Sebastian Stan and Brittany Ishibashi in "Political Animals," which is slated for the cable network's summer lineup. "Hinds will star as Bud Hammond, the jovial ex-president of the United States and ex-husband of Elaine Barrish," a synopsis said. "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." Weaver will play Elaine.