In case you don't know what Netflix is, it's a subscription based TV/film streaming service (basically.) Until now the company has avoided original programming but things are set to change.
Apparently Netflix have splashed out $100 million for two seasons of a new drama, House Of Cards, beating off bids by TV giant HBO in the process. But let's get straight to the point will it be any good? This could revolutionise how Netflix does business and bring in thousands more subscriptions, or it could be a huge flop for them. Let's take a look at what we know so far.
House Of Cards (1990)
It's a political thriller which started as a novel by Michael Dobbs (a former Conservative chief of staff.) It was then adapted into a popular, critically acclaimed TV mini-series (ranked 84th in the top 100 British TV programmes of all time) not bad for a TV show with a life-span of three episodes.
The plot in a nutshell: After the resignation of Margaret Thatcher the governing Conservative Party are about to elect a new leader. (Fictional) Francis Urquhart, Member of Parliament and Chief Whip is beaten to the post by Henry Collingridge. Urquhart is contemptuous and aims at ousting Collingridge.
The Juicy bits: alcohol and cocaine abuse, sex, affairs, blackmail, prostitution, road accidents, Communism, homosexuality and nuclear disarmament.
Netflix House Of Cards
The new Netflix version will bring the story to America (what bits will be saved or cut from the original series is unknown) but given the acclaim of the original it would be foolish to start from scratch and no doubt a lot of the plots and characters will be copied and pasted.
Cast
David Fincher will be the director (Social Network, Fight Club, Seven.) His film achievements are impressive. How they will translate onto the TV screen no one knows, but Social Network plays with a lot of the themes that we will be seeing in House Of Cards (greed, obsession, unpredictability and sex) and that was a huge success with an award winning screenplay, so things look promising. Plus Fincher has previously worked with Kevin Spacey (who will take the lead role.) Even more of a reason for this show to be a hit.