While a lot of the excitement for new programming on Netflix stems from their acquisition of Arrested Development season 4, let’s not forget that the rental and streaming service also holds House of Cards, a new original series from Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Social Network director, David Fincher.
It’s been about a year and a half since our last report on the series, but that changes today as Netflix has announced a premiere date for House of Cards, along with a slick new poster.
House of Cards – an adaptation of the BBC miniseries of the same name – is written by Beau Willimon (The Ides of March) and Eric Roth (Forrest Gump), and follows Kevin Spacey as Francis Underwood, the House Majority Whip in the United States Congress. The press release describes the character as “the politician’s politician – masterful, beguiling, charismatic and ruthless.” His success comes from the fact that he and his wife Claire (Robin Wright) will stop at nothing to get to the top and stay there.
The new series digs deep into politics and highlights “the back halls of greed, sex, love and corruption in modern Washington D.C.” Joining Spacey and Wright in the seedy underbelly of our nation’s capitol will be Kate Mara, Corey Stoll, Kristen Connolly, Michael Kelly and Sakina Jaffrey.
CLICK FOR FULL SIZE
Fincher only directs the first two episodes, but James Foley (Glengarry GlenRoss), Joel Schumacher (Batman & Robin), Charles McDougall (The Office), Carl Franklin (Out of Time) and Alan Coulter (Boardwalk Empire) direct the rest of season 1. That’s some great talent behind the camera, and it should key audiences into the fact that this will likely have some solid comedy along with the hard-hitting political drama. Spacey is also executive producing the show with Dana Brunetti (who produced The Social Network) and his Trigger Street Productions banner. Fincher, Willimon, Spacey and Roth are executive producing as well.
Netflix will debut all 13 episodes of House of Cards through their Watch Instant service (available in North America, United Kingdom, Ireland, Latin America and Scandinavia) on February 1st, 2013. Netflix’s Chief Content Officer says, “In offering the entire season at once, Netflix is giving viewers complete control over how and when they watch the show.” It’s not surprising since this is the same way Arrested Development will be rolled out online as well. It will certainly change the dynamic of water cooler talk about these shows.
In addition, there’s no stress about ratings with a release like this, and Netflix already has a second season ordered, which is scheduled to begin production next spring. In the meantime, stay tuned as a trailer for the series will likely arrive sometime before the end of the year.
House of Cards will premiere on Netflix on February 1, 2013.
Source: NY Times
Ryan Reynolds Drops Out of 'Highlander' Reboot 
No Loki in 'Avengers 2' 
'Man of Steel' Director & Writer on What Has to Happen in 'Man of Steel 2' 
'Man of Steel' Ending Controversy 
I have been waiting FOREVER for this news…Can’t wait, easily the most anticipated show for me since i was waiting for boardwalk empire/game of thrones a couple of years ago….also waiting on news for eli roth’s horror show on netflix…Kevin Spacy on a SHOW? can’t wait. Also very awesome poster.
I just started the first season last week and finished an hour ago and just read this new, I feel sorry for you cause I wouldn’t have been able to wait!
I have the original House of Cards BBC series–much of the greatness of it is the narrator (who is also the main character). Spacey should do a terrific job on this, especially if they are keeping the same format.
Oh god I was excited until I saw that Joel Schumacher will be directing some of the episodes
Just finished the first season. It was GREAT! Kevin Spacey is terrific. When is season 2 coming?