Talk about keeping your House in order. With ten days to go until the second season premiere of Netflix’s hit political drama series House of Cards, the streaming giant is showing a strong vote of confidence in the show, its most awarded original series thus far, by ordering a third season. Considering the presence of A-listers like Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, it’s not that surprising to hear that Netflix is interested in keeping the Beau Willimon-created show around for the foreseeable future.
When House of Cards launched its first season one year ago, it became Netflix’s first foray into the original programming field. Though horror thriller Hemlock Grove, prison drama Orange is the New Black and comedy revival Arrested Development quickly followed in its footsteps, House of Cards certainly marked the company’s most auspicious programming debut. This past year, it received nine Emmy nominations (winning three, for direction, casting and cinematography) and earned four Golden Globe nominations, taking home the Globe for Best Actress for Wright’s performance. Wright’s win marked the first major acting award for an online-only web television series.
The show was originally packaged as a two-season, 26-episode deal, but there was never any doubt that Netflix had a vested interest in keeping it around for longer. In November at a press conference, Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos let slip that more House of Cards was on his mind, noting, “I think if you look at the original House of Cards [a British miniseries which ran  for four episodes in 1990], there was a natural third season, and we could go well beyond that.”
The bigger concern was always whether stars Spacey and Wright, both Hollywood stars, would be able or willing to make any further time commitments. Now, however, it appears they’ve worked out a deal with Netflix so that their characters, House Majority Whip Frank Underwood (Spacey) and his manipulative wife Claire (Wright), can continue scheming away in Washington for a little while longer.
The third season, which will presumably consist of thirteen episodes, will likely air in 2015, if Netflix keeps to their current schedule. The company certainly hasn’t been resting on its laurels; in addition to more House of Cards, the network is actively working on a second series of Hemlock Grove, more Orange is the New Black, a third series of Lilyhammer, multiple miniseries involving Marvel characters, a series based around famed explorer Marco Polo, the Wachowski-helmed Sense8, a drama called Narcos, an untitled psychological thriller and a final series of AMC‘s The Killing. Given all those projects, it’s possible that the third season of House of Cards could face a delay, but the show’s tremendous popularity will, in all likelihood, cause Netflix to put it on the fast track.
Are you thrilled to hear that Frank and Claire Underwood will continue their rise to political power for a third season, or are you already weary of this series? Let us know in the comments section!
Season two of House of Cards lands on Netflix in its entirety on February 14. Because what better way is there to show love for your significant other than by binge-watching?
