'House of Cards' shares Fourth of July message from new president Claire Underwood - 'Happy Independence Day, To Me'
Netflix's 'House of Cards' seems to be embracing its newfound identity now that Kevin Spacey has been axed from the show. In a Twitter message posted for Independence Day, we see the new president, Robin Wright's Claire Underwood, delivering a soundbite that sends a clear-cut message — that season 6 is all about her.
"Happy Independence Day," she says, before fiercely adding "To Me," as the brief 12-second teaser cuts off. Fans of the show will recall the conclusion of season 5 of the political thriller series saw Spacey's Frank Underwood resign from the presidency. His ploy involved fooling the public into thinking that he was resigning in the face of the controversies that plagued his time at the Oval Office, while in reality, he would still be controlling the president that took his place, his wife, Claire.
A presidential pardon would see him in the clear and free to once again scheme to get back into power, but Claire would have other plans. At the final moments of the season finale that aired last May, the camera cuts to her in the show's patent fourth wall-breaking fashion, and she looks the audience straight in the eye and declares self-assuredly "My turn."
The fate of the Golden Globe-winning show was left up in the air following the emergence of the numerous sexual assault allegations against Spacey in October in the aftermath of New York Times' Harvey Weinstein exposé. Soon after, Netflix announced Spacey's firing and the news that the sixth season will be its final one, with Ted Sarandos, Netflix's Chief Content Officer, reassuring fans that it 'will bring closure.'
It will probably never be known whether the producers intended to continue with Wright as Commander-in-Chief or whether there were plans to reinstate Spacey in the top position for the upcoming season, with their hand forced to go in this current direction after the latter's predatory behavior came to light. Filming for the sixth season, which had already been underway, was suspended, and it was subsequently shortened from 13 episodes to eight.
Anthony Rapp was the first to come out with accusations against the Oscar-winning actor, claiming that he had made a sexual advance towards him when he was just 14-years-old. Shortly after, around 15 other men alleged that Spacey had sexually harassed or assaulted him. There were also reports that Spacey had used racial slurs against some of his employees on the sets of a film.
As a result, Netflix cut all ties from him and shelved his upcoming film 'Gore.' All of his scenes from Ridley Scott's 'All the Money in the World' were cut as well, with Christopher Plummer replacing him in the shoots, though will be returning to the big screen with an appearance in 'Billionaire Boys Club.'
The eight-episode sixth season of 'House of Cards' started production in early 2018, with it scheduled to air on Netflix sometime later this year.