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A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
The Emmy®- and Golden Globe®-winning political drama House of Cards returns to Netflix for
its anticipated fifth season. With tensions mounting in the White House, Frank Underwood
(Kevin Spacey) and Claire Underwood (Robin Wright) continue to navigate their political
careers and redefine their relationships – particularly with each other.
All 13 episodes of the new season will become available to Netflix members worldwide on
Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at 12:01 a.m. PT.
“Season four ends with the Underwoods promising to foment chaos and fear, and that’s where
we pick up in season five,” says Melissa James Gibson, who serves as showrunner this
season alongside Frank Pugliese.
House of Cards’ cast also includes Michael Kelly, Jayne Atkinson, Neve Campbell, Derek
Cecil, Paul Sparks and Joel Kinnaman. This season’s new cast members include Patricia
Clarkson, Campbell Scott, Korey Jackson and James Martinez.
In addition to Gibson and Pugliese, House of Cards’ executive producers are David Fincher,
John Mankiewicz, Daniel Minahan, Kevin Spacey, Joshua Donen, Dana Brunetti, Eric
Roth, Robin Wright, Michael Dobbs and Andrew Davies. The series was created for
television by Beau Willimon and is produced by Donen/Fincher/Roth and Trigger Street
Productions, Inc. in association with Media Rights Capital for Netflix.
SUMMARY: SEASON FIVE
House of Cards’ fifth season picks up where it left off: in the midst of a tense presidential
election that puts the Underwoods on the same ticket against energetic Republican upstart Will
Conway (Joel Kinnaman). Viewers will see how their heated campaigns play out as well as
which alliances dissolve in the aftermath.
Perhaps the biggest question is if Frank and Claire’s relationship is among them.
“I think there’s something about (the Underwoods) trying to find some sort of détente,”
Pugliese says. “They’re coming back together, and they’re trying to redefine who they are to
each other and see what their partnership is.”
Adds Gibson: “Both of these characters are such survivors, but who’s ultimately going to have
the greatest stamina? It’s unclear.”
In the White House, Frank Underwood is joined by his loyal Chief of Staff, Doug Stamper
(Michael Kelly); Secretary of State Catherine Durant (Jayne Atkinson); Press Secretary Seth
Grayson (Derek Cecil); advisor LeAnn Harvey (Neve Campbell); and speechwriter Tom Yates
(Paul Sparks).
But this season, much of the action also belongs to outsiders, from an increasingly angry
electorate to a team of investigative journalists to a “deep state” of political operatives. As the
Underwoods told the nation to prepare for war against ICO in season four, they invited new
allies and adversaries.
“The battlefield is the American psyche, basically,” Gibson says of the new season.
Adds Pugliese: “Terror ultimately lives in the imagination of the voter, and we wanted to take
advantage of that. There are ways that gets manipulated, and there’s a price you pay.”
This season’s band of outsiders includes Mark Usher (Campbell Scott) and Jane Davis
(Patricia Clarkson), two high-powered figures who avoid the spotlight and whose ambitions
remain shrouded.
Over at the Washington Herald, Tom Hammerschmidt (Boris McGiver) and young reporter
Sean Jeffries (Korey Jackson) try to unlock mysteries behind Zoe Barnes’ death and Rachel
Posner’s disappearance – two shocking events that continue to haunt those affected by them.
“Season five is just the past is catching up with some of these characters,” Pugliese says.
Even House of Cards’ viewers may factor into this game-changing season.
“Francis has always been inviting the audience’s complicity, and there’s a question about how
much the audience will take,” Pugliese says.
“How long are they gonna be along for the ride, and to what extent?” Gibson adds. “(Frank)
tests the limits of that complicity in the same way this season is really testing the limits of
democracy.”
Season five is marked by violent power plays, new alliances, stunning betrayals and, as
always, a desire to win at any cost – and not just from Frank Underwood.
“The landscape really shifted by the end of season four,” Gibson notes. “I think it shifts again
by the end of season five.”
THE CAST: NEW AND RETURNING FACES
Led by Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, who have both won Golden Globe Awards for their
roles on the series, House of Cards’ cast remains an exceptional ensemble in its fifth season.
“(The actors) inhabit their characters in such a comprehensive manner,” Gibson says. “They
have such a respect for them, and the complexity of their performances inspires the story and
its execution.”
One talent joining the mix this season is stage and screen veteran Campbell Scott (Damages,
The Amazing Spider-Man, Roger Dodger). Scott plays Mark Usher, a top-level advisor who
clashes with some characters as strongly as he connects with others.
“I think Mark Usher is based on a number of people that have emerged over the years: this sort
of pundit-like, uber-campaign manager, political star maker,” Pugliese says. There’s a lot of
stuff that happens behind the scenes with characters like this. … We wanted one to emerge
and become a player.”
While Usher gains the trust of some very powerful figures, others doubt his intentions.
“(Doug) can’t stand Usher,” says Michael Kelly, who plays Frank Underwood’s right-hand
man, Doug Stamper. “Anyone who’s a threat to him is always instantly an enemy in his eyes.
He was not fond of Usher from the beginning, and Usher getting privileges beyond what I
believe he deserves or can be trusted with becomes a big theme of this season.”
“Campbell Scott is one of those actors who has quietly been building a brilliant body of work
over a long period of time,” Spacey says of the actor. “I’ve admired him, his humor, his
commitment and his love of the theater. … I had an absolutely stellar time with him during the
shoot of season five. He fit in like he been part of our family from the very beginning.”
Academy Award®-nominated and Emmy®-winning actress Patricia Clarkson (Six Feet Under,
Pieces of April, Good Night, and Good Luck.) plays Jane Davis, another divisive figure who
wields power behind the scenes and forges a bond with Claire Underwood.
“With Jane Davis, there’s really a fluidity to her portfolio,” Gibson says. “It’s hard to nail down
exactly what it is she does. She has her fingers in a lot of pies, but at the same time doesn’t
leave fingerprints.”
“There’s a power base (in Washington) that’s always there, no matter who the administration is
– a network of mutual concerns and beneficial relationships,” Pugliese says. “We wanted
someone who could move through all of that and give you a sense of what that is. And also, I
think there was a desire on our part to have two powerful women of a certain age negotiate a
relationship.”
Spacey and Clarkson go way back – the two appeared together in the 1988 film Rocket
Gibraltar – and Spacey says he continues to admire her work in theater, television and film.
“I think she brings a distinct quality to her performance in House of Cards,” Spacey adds. “She
and Campbell offer both Claire and Frank interesting sets of challenges that will keep our
audience intrigued.”
Returning faces this season include Damian Young (The Comeback, Birdman) as Aidan
MacAllan, the data specialist who helped LeAnn Harvey (Neve Campbell) commit some
heinous crimes to benefit the Underwoods.
“He’s been given the keys to the candy store at the end of season four,” Gibson says. “Season
five (explores) just what’s going to happen with that power and how that’s going to put him in
danger.”
Paul Sparks (The Night Of, The Girlfriend Experience) returns as Thomas Yates, another
character who was given prime access to the White House in season four. In season five, the
novelist and speechwriter becomes increasingly close to Claire.
“He’s a really core part of this season,” Gibson says. “Those two characters have an adult,
multilayered relationship.”
As Doug Stamper, Michael Kelly’s character has been put through the wringer each season
and has proven he’d do just about anything for Frank Underwood.
“Doug’s always battling demons. He’s back with Frank and where he belongs – or where he
believes he belongs, so I think that’s a good thing for his mental state,” Kelly says. “But there’s
always something else troubling him.”
“With the psychological terrain that’s been established for that character over four seasons, it’s
impossible not to try to keep telling that story,” Pugliese says. “The things he’s done, it’s
impossible to let go of.”
Boris McGiver returns as investigative journalist Tom Hammerschmidt, who is joined by
ambitious reporter Sean Jeffries, played by Korey Jackson (Daredevil, The Good Wife). James
Martinez (Run All Night, One Day at a Time) joins the mix as outspoken congressman Alex
Romero. As Catherine Durant, Jayne Atkinson plays the cautious-but-dependable secretary of
state. Derek Cecil returns as Press Secretary Seth Grayson, as do Joel Kinnaman and
Dominique McElligott as power couple Will and Hannah Conway.
“It’s an amazing ensemble,” says Pugliese. “You just want to write for those actors, that whole
crew.”
Adds Kelly: “Every year they bring in new people, and they’re always the best of the best.”
BEHIND THE SCENES: AN ACCOMPLISHED TEAM
In season five, Melissa James Gibson and Frank Pugliese serve as co-showrunners of House
of Cards, taking the reins from creator Beau Willimon. The pair has written for the series since
season three and was eager to work with the actors and crew to create an outstanding batch
of new episodes.
“In my eyes, if you can’t have Beau, Frank and Melissa were the next best thing,” Kelly says.
“They were very open to collaborating. … I can’t say enough about those two and the way they
handled everything. They did an incredible job.”
Directors this season include Emmy winner Alik Sakharov, Roxann Dawson, Agnieszka
Holland, Dan Minahan, Michael Morris and Robin Wright, who helms the season finale.
“Her knowledge as a performer really feeds her directing, and vice versa,” Gibson says of
Wright, who has directed eight House of Cards episodes. “She understands the tone and visual
vocabulary that was established by (David) Fincher, and she both honors and builds on it.”
And though the American political climate may have changed since viewers last saw the
Underwoods, Pugliese says the season was written long before the real-life presidential
elections were in play.
“Anything resonant or connected to what happened was stuff I think it was in the air already,”
he says. “I mean, this show was talking about nationalism and populism two or three seasons
ago. And the idea of a strong charismatic figure grabbing the attention of the American voter …
that’s something the show’s played with for years and years.”
Nominated for 46 Emmy Awards, House of Cards’ stellar behind-the-scenes team includes
costume designer Johanna Argan, composer Jeff Beal, production designer Julie Walker
and director of photography David M. Dunlap.
“Every line of dialogue, every scene, every script … we just want to make sure it’s as great as it
can be,” Pugliese says.
THE FANS: A GLOBAL FAVORITE
As one of Netflix’s flagship series, House of Cards has attracted attention all over the world.
Each season brings more discussion – and, of course, more binging.
“The freedom (Netflix) gives the audience is really exciting for us as storytellers,” Pugliese says.
“I think it revolutionized the form a bit.”
Adds Kelly: “So much happens in every episode that (you want) to watch the next one. It’s a
very binge-able show.”
As for fans’ devotion to the series, Gibson says it just makes the team work harder.
“They’ve been so loyal and excited and dedicated for so long, and the fact that it speaks to
people all over the world is amazing,” she says.
She adds, “The degree to which the fans connect to the show only reinforces our goal, which is
to make sure the show remains as rigorous and true to itself as ever, at the same time as it
keeps evolving.”
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