House of Cards has had great success in the few years since it first came out. It might go down as one of the most binge-watch-worthy shows of all time, with all its twists and turns and shocking sudden developments. But the success of the show took many factors – and we’ll cover a bunch of them in this list of 15 things you didn’t know about the show.
Number Fifteen: It’s Based on a British Show
Somehow it’s hard to imagine this very Washington D.C. show being based on a British story, but it’s true. Although the British House of Cards was only a miniseries, so obviously a lot about the current American version is different.
Number Fourteen: The Filmmakers Involved in the Show Have Plenty of Political Experience
Beau Willimon, the showrunner, worked in the past for politicians like Hillary Clinton and Howard Dean. The show also has a political consultant named Jay Carson who has worked with Michael Bloomberg and the Clintons.
Number Thirteen: It Was Director David Fincher’s First Television Work
Fincher is known for movies like Fight Club and The Social Network. But this show was his first foray into television – although he only directed the show’s first two episodes.
Number Twelve: It Was Almost on a Different Network
It’s known as a Netflix original, but that almost wasn’t the case. HBO and AMC were both bidding for the show as well, but obviously, the premier streaming service won out.
Number Eleven: House of Cards Was the First Show to Release a Full Season at Once
This is strange to consider, especially because of how many shows follow this same format now. It was only a few years ago, but the show pioneered this episode release format.
Number Ten: It Was the First Online Series to Win an Emmy
It isn’t just a pioneer in terms of releasing episodes. The show won three Emmys in 2013, and at the time, no online show had done it.
Number Nine: Kevin Spacey Bought Woody Allen a Netflix Subscription
He gifted the prolific director a subscription so that he could watch House of Cards. He wanted to have a better chance of being cast in a Woody Allen film and thought it would help if the director saw his performance in the show. That’s all for part one, but check back for part two!