"West Wing" actor warms to BBC thriller

[Brian Damage]

CANNES (Hollywood Reporter) - Bradley Whitford, of "The West Wing" and "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" fame, has signed up for his first U.K. TV project, "Burn Up," a miniseries for BBC2.

Whitford, will play an unscrupulous oil industry lobbyist in the taut environmental thriller, which also stars Neve Campbell and Rupert Penry-Jones.

The drama tells the story of a group of oil executives, environmental activists and politicians as their loves and loyalties collide in the battle between economic success and ecological responsibility.

Penry-Jones stars as the new head of Arrow Oil, who finds his life unraveling in a high-stakes game of power and international intrigue. He's caught between loyalties to his best friend, Mack (Whitford), and his pro-environment colleague, Holly (Campbell).

Shooting on the Anglo-Canadian co-production will start shooting this month in Calgary and London, and will hit screens next year.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter