Netflix deals 'House of Cards' a fourth season for 2016
The award-winning political drama will return for another season, according to a tweet from Netflix.
The Underwoods will be back in office next year when Netflix's "House of Cards" embarks on a fourth season.
The show's renewal was revealed Thursday by a tweet from Netflix displaying a black image with an upside down American flag and the words: "Season 4 Coming 2016." Above the image is a line that says: "I will leave a legacy" with the hashtag #Underwood2016.
Netflix's tweet didn't reveal any other details, such as when the fourth season would start its term. But this year's season began on February 27 and featured the usual number of 13 episodes. The fourth season will carry a certain irony as it will debut the same year the US will hold a real election to decide the next president.
Based on a British series, the American version of "House of Cards" stars Kevin Spacey as scheming politician and president Frank Underwood and Robin Wright as the first lady and Frank's counterpart in political crime. The first three seasons have followed the Underwoods as they clawed and scratched their way to the White House and finally had to face the challenges of running the country.
Both Spacey and Wright will be back for the fourth season, according to Deadline Hollywood. Production will start this summer in and around Baltimore where past seasons have been filmed.
Will the fourth season spell the end of the series? The line: "I will leave a legacy" implies a certain finality. But as one of Netflix's most popular and successful original series, "House of Cards" could continue if the online service and the creative talent behind the show are so inclined.
In 2013, "House of Cards" won 14 Emmy nominations, the first time a series from an online-only service was up for the award. The show won Emmies for casting and cinematography as well as for best directing of a drama series. In 2014, the show's second season earned a total of 31 Emmy nominations but came home empty at the end of the night.
Since "House of Cards" debuted two years ago, Netflix has introduced more original series as it positions itself against such cable giants as HBO. Over that time, though, other online services such Amazon have unveiled their own original shows in a growing market competing for the attention of the audience.
Netflix declined to comment further on the 2016 season of "House of Cards."