Netflix has announced that its flagship original political drama series HOUSE OF CARDS will be coming to an end with the show's forthcoming sixth and final season. In the show, actor Kevin Spacey plays Frank Underwood, the American politician who served as the 46th President of the United States for the show created by Beau Willimon. The show will conclude its term with a final 13-episode count, with both Spacey and Robin Wright continuing their roles as the tenacious political power couple.
The news of Netflix "impeaching" the series comes just over 12-hours after Star Trek Discovery star Anthony Rapp publicly accused Spacey of making sexual advances on him in the mid-1980s, when Rapp was just 14-years-old. Last Sunday, Rapp proclaimed that a then 26-year-old Spacey drunkenly carried the then teen to his bed, where he proceeded to "seduce" him after a party had dispersed from the AMERICAN BEAUTY actor's apartment. As word reached Netflix and key creatives of the show this morning, the decision to cancel the long-running program was handed down.
In his claim, Rapp stated that, at the time, he "was aware that he [Spacey] was trying to get with me sexually." In looking at the 1986 timeline for the alleged event, you'd find that both Stacey and Rapp were performing on Broadway together, in a revival of Long Day’s Journey Into Night and Precious Sons respectively.
Not long after the allegations were made public, Spacey responded to Rapp's statement via his personal Twitter profile with the following statement:
Since the posting of his apology, and coming out as gay to the public, Spacey's behavior and words have set Hollywood and fans of the 58-year-old actor reeling. In fact, many who've voiced their disgust about Spacey's handling of the matter have said that his words deflect the allegation of sexual misconduct with news about him confirming his sexual preference and practices. For the moment, Rapp has said that he has "no further comment … at this time."
In light of the allegations made against Spacey, Netflix and producer Media Rights Capital on Monday released a statement on Spacey, saying, “Media Rights Capital and Netflix are deeply troubled by last night’s news concerning Kevin Spacey. In response to last night’s revelations, executives from both of our companies arrived in Baltimore this afternoon to meet with our cast and crew to ensure that they continue to feel safe and supported. As previously scheduled, Kevin Spacey is not working on set at this time.”
Netflix will vote HOUSE OF CARDS out of office in 2018 with Season 6 serving as the conclusion to the sordid tale of Frank Underwood.