Frank Underwood may not be going to war, at least, not at the United Nations Security Council.
"Foreign Policy" magazine obtained confidential emails that reveal Russia blocked a request by the producers of "House of Cards" to film in the U.N. Security Council chamber. The emails were between a Russian diplomat and his colleagues at the Security Council. Russia formally blocked the request Tuesday night, less than 30 minutes before the deadline would have been up and permission would have been automatically granted.
The explanation for Russia's refusal to allow "House of Cards" to be film at the Security Council is that the chamber must remain free in case of any international emergencies and unexpected sessions.
"House of Cards" is a Netflix original television series about a congressman from the House of Representatives named Frank Underwood, played by Kevin Spacey, and his machinations to climb the political ladder. Two seasons are currently available for streaming on Netflix.
The producers had requested to film at the U.N. in off-hours and weekends in August for material that would be used in two episodes of the show's third season. The scenes would've involved the U.N. Security Council sessions and discussions between ambassadors from the Security Council before and after such sessions.
The U.N. Department of Public Information is supportive of "House of Cards" filming at the Security Council chamber because it would help inform the pubilc about what actually happens in the sessions of the Security Council.
This isn't the first time the U.N. Security Council chamber has been used as a set. Photographer Annie Leibowitz did a photo shoot of U.S. ambassador Susan Rice for "Vogue" magazine. Also, a French film about diplomats titled "Quai D'Orsay," by director Bertrand Tavernier, was filmed there. The movie was released in 2013.
However, this isn't the first time a production as been denied access to the Security Council, either. In 1959, the U.N. Security Council denied Alfred Hitchcock's request to film a scene for "North by Northwest" in the North Delegate Lounge.
Fans of the show may still get to see Underwood's ruthlessness at the U.N. as part of "House of Card's" next season; filming may still occur in other areas of the U.N. headquarters in New York, including the U.N.'s Delegate Lounge.
