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Netflix just released first trailer for its first original series, the big-budget David Fincher-Kevin Spacey political drama House Of Cards. Based on the British miniseries, the MRC-produced House Of Cards centers on ruthless and cunning Rep. Francis Underwood (Spacey) and his wife Claire (Robin Wright), who stop at nothing to conquer everything. Kate Mara and Corey Stoll co-star. While Netflix has distributed acquired original series like Lillehammer, House Of Cards is the first show commissioned by the streaming giant when it last year outbid a host of cable networks for the property with a two-season, 26-episode order in a deal worth $100 million. The series premieres February 1, with all episodes from the first season available for streaming simultaneously.
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Thought lilyhammer was the first original Netflix series?
Lilyhammer was a Norwegian production, Netflix simply acquired the American distribution rights, if I’m not mistaken. House of Cards is an American production so distribution rights belong to Netflix in the first place.
Love Robin Wright but Kevin Spacey’s accent is really annoying to listen to.
I am soooooooo Looking forward to this, its enough that Spacey is in this but they got some heavy hitters for this and i cant Wait!!!
Go Netflix
looks great. Just reactivated netflix account.
Sure you did.
I’ve been wondering, does a show like this that airs only on an online distribution network qualify for any awards? Or does it have to air on an actual network for it to be considered for say the Emmys or Globes? If it’s as good as it looks it could be a contender next year if it qualifies.
This combination of Greek tragedy and American soap opera feels tired to me and not quite honest. Prediction: Within six episodes, anything interesting the show will be able to say about politics will be exhausted and they will end up servicing the melodrama in increasingly ridiculous ways, while still maintaining a posture of gravitas and hoping people don’t notice. And people likely won’t, for a while. I would like to have seen someone like Fassbinder direct this–someone who didn’t thumb his nose at melodrama, but knew how to actually marry it to profundity.
I’m gonna watch it for Robin Wright and for her only. She’s such a great actress. Hope her role is very meaty one.
Kudos to Netflix on this. Not sure I agree that they should make all episodes available at once, though. This is high-quality stuff, treat it like you’re rolling out a network or cable series and bring folks back week after week. Otherwise, the majority of consumers who gorge on a season in one weekend will do so. Many folks will light up Netflix for one month to watch this, then cancel again. Roll it out over 2-3 months and get folks engaged longer.
Good point. While I recognize that Netflix is NOT traditional television, there’s a whole world of bloggers, recappers, and other media types who will give week and week of discussion about the show. Instead of a hyped-up premiere followed by a whimper, a staggered schedule gives you a hyped-up premiere, then months of sustained publicity, and hopefully more hype around the season finale. (Unless it stinks, and people simply stop caring.)
Breaking the wall is SUPER ANNOYING. And obvious evil is kind of boring (even if it is Spacey doing the evil)…And visually, this pales in comparison to BOSS. This looks like a bad attempt at Shakespearean storytelling (great actors, but how on the nose can the execution be?)…for $100 million?
Can’t agree with you there. They break the wall in House of Lies and it really works. It lets the audience in on the joke. Breaking the wall in House of Cards will work in somewhat the same way. After all, isn’t it a joke, the way things get done in Washington? It’s about time we got in on it.
I fully agree about breaking the wall. I watched five minutes of House of Cards and the breaking out of character to talk to the camera was so annoying (it also breaks you out of the story) that I removed it from instant cue. If I was on the fence with Netflix (which I’m not) then this series would cause me not to subscribe. It’s too bad, because it showed some promise.
Looks good. Trailer was a little disjointed, but I am definitely intrigued.
Well, this certainly looks interesting. Can’t wait.
Shh! Digitorialist. That’s exactly what I intend to do.
I also disagree on the “all available from the getgo” strategy. If you roll them out week by week, alerting users with weekly emails and on-site “suggested viewing” ads to actually make them aware of the series (hint hint), it makes it an EVENT. If you just plop it online, it’s just THERE, for anyone to watch at any time, making it just another piece of content.
Case in point: I streamed the first three episodes of Lillehammer, and quite ENJOYED IT, but haven’t come back to watch the rest. There’s no urgency, I can find it at any time, thus… I don’t bother. And since Netflix didn’t bother to put any marketing behind it, there was no buzz, no ads, no blog articles or reviews, and no one I know was talking about it. No. Urgency.
Looks great. Spacey’s perfect for the role. Music sucks, though.
Absolutely, that music sucks. For me, it saps the trailer of all energy. I kind of expect better marketing from a David Fincher project. Think of the memorable use of music in trailers for THE SOCIAL NETWORK.
I totally disagree with both of you on the music.
First, let’s remember that most trailer music is not done by the composer of the actually film/TV. It’s farmed out to someone else.
Second…you think The Social Network music was good? Do you have any idea as to how many A-list pros (not just composers) in the film score business disagree with you?! The purpose of film score music is to underpin the emotion of a scene; not to distract from it.
How about waiting until the show is released and then see if the music underpins the scenes. Remember…the music is not there for the sake of the music. It is there for the scene. If the music distracts from the scene (especially in dialogue), then it is not done properly.
I would recommend that both of you back up a moment and get a better understanding of the process and the purpose of film score music and the amount of over-the-top work goes into it, before you start trashing it, unless you have more qualifications such as actually being film score composers yourselves, as I am.
I miss Ian Richardson. And Stamper. Looks decent but Spacey is not sexy at all and the journalist girl comes off like a dispassionate simp.
The key here is, how does it stack up to the British version with the great Ian Richardson in that role? What I don’t see in the trailer is the creepy charm that Richardson brought to the role, drawing the viewer in, against his will, to ultimately be a part of the horrible betrayals. It’s all “Richard III” of course, but that’s the point. There were times when Richardson would take the viewer aside and say something so funny and yet mortifying at the same time. If anyone is up for this, it’s a great actor like Kevin Spacey and a brilliant director like David Fincher.
I wondered that too, next year Netflix will be lobbying hard for this and Arrested Development to get Emmy noms.
Looks great, but is it just me or does anyone else think this is really close to the story in BOSS?
Wow, a Southern accent and working in Washington. Must be an evil person. How utterly original and authentic.
Don’t jump to conclusion, runee by just watching the trailer. It’s a multi-layered character and talented Spacey will make sure it’s all shades of grey in terms of motivation.
This looks awesome. From the short glimpse, it appears to have real potential to stack up next to the original. Ian Richardson was incredible, but if anyone can match it while making it his own, it’s Spacey supported by the rest of this talented cast.
Looks great. Agree it’s very “Boss”-like. Which is right up my street. Cool that the whole first season will be up at once for binge viewing.
Love the Deadline troll complainers and nit-pickers shitting on this 2-minute trailer. How can I be cool like you?
I love Robin Wright so I hope this is a great role for her
Looks interesting, but incredibly whitewashed. I expected more from a burgeoning network with the ability to take chances…