Beau Willimon on Hollywood and “House of Cards”

The Takeaway

D.C. is all about politics and power, and in the new Netflix drama “House of Cards” there’s plenty of both.
“House of Cards” is produced by the video streaming service Netflix, and the company used market research to build a show based on the actors, director, and style of drama its viewers found most appealing. They released all thirteen episodes together last month, to great acclaim.
The political drama centers on the House Majority Whip Francis Underwood, played by Kevin Spacey, and the revenge he tries to exact against others on Capitol Hill after he’s passed up for the Secretary of State position he was promised.
Does the series take inspiration from real life? And how fine is the line between entertainment and government? “House of Cards” creator, writer, and producer Beau Willimon shares his thoughts.

Will you support The World? 

The story you just read is accessible and free to all because thousands of listeners and readers contribute to our nonprofit newsroom. We go deep to bring you the human-centered international reporting that you know you can trust. To do this work and to do it well, we rely on the support of our listeners. If you appreciated our coverage this year, if there was a story that made you pause or a song that moved you, would you consider making a gift to sustain our work through 2024 and beyond?