When the sexual allegations against Kevin Spacey surfaced last year, it put the fate of House of Cards in peril. Then Netflix promptly removed him from the show, making the show's future even murkier — what story would the series even tell?
The answer, as it turns out, was in front of everyone's eyes all along: Claire Underwood. Played with sinister calmness by Emmy-nominated actor Robin Wright, Claire is every bit as cunning, calculating, and clever as his husband Frank, who was ousted from presidency last season.
As vice president, Claire is next in line following Frank's ouster, and that appears to be what the sixth and final season will be about.
Several months ago, Netflix released a teaser that showed Claire as the new leader of the country. Now, the streaming service has followed it up with a bunch of new images from the new season featuring Claire looking as elegant as ever, but now even more powerful. The photos, first published by Entertainment Weekly, affirm that the show will end its run with Claire in the Oval Office as the first female president of the United States, which paves the way for compelling storylines this season.
Kevin Spacey Sexual Allegations
The decision to put Claire in the Oval Office was largely done because it was announced Spacey would no longer be part of the show following the sexual misconduct allegations against him. After Star Trek Discovery actor Anthony Rapp alleged that Spacey made sexual advances toward him when he was just 14, Netflix promptly suspended production, immediately cut ties with Spacey, and announced season six would be the show's last.
Filming resumed later on, but without Spacey. At the time, reports said writers were looking for a way to clear Frank out of the picture, possibly by writing a story in which his character is killed.
As Madam President, Claire will serve as the sole lead of the upcoming season, joined by a stellar lineup of actors including newcomers Diane Lane and Greg Kinnear in supporting roles. To date, Wright has earned five Emmy nominations and one Golden Globe award for her role as Claire, proof enough that she's more than up for the job. Not to mention the fact that many fans consider her character to be superior to Frank, and the true leader of the two.
House Of Cards Season 6 Premiere Date
Check out the first photos from House of Cards's sixth season below. The show returns to Netflix sometime before this year ends.
