Frank Underwood is dead, and Claire Underwood is ready to bury his reputation along with his body. In the new trailer for the upcoming season of House of Cards, Claire takes up her nascent mantle as president of the United States, delivering a stirring introductory speech to the U.S. Armed Forces and the American people at large.
“My first 100 days as president have been difficult,” she begins. “I lost my husband. We were about to celebrate 30 years together.” Then, our modern Lady Macbeth pauses, ready to deliver her first blow: “Heres the thing: whatever Francis told you the last five years? Dont believe a word of it.”
As with all things House of Cards, of course, theres a conspiratorial edge to Franks death. Its not clear from the trailer just how he died, but we do know that mystery swirls around the circumstances. It also doesnt help that power siblings, Annette and Bill Shepherd (played by Diane Lane and Greg Kinnear), come barging in to collect on whatever promises Frank made with them before his death. Claire, a woman who loves nothing more than to make new enemies, lets them know she wont be tethered to any of her dead husbands shady deals. Shed prefer to make shady deals of her own, thank you very much.
“The reign of the middle-aged white man is over,” she declares at one point, later heading up a women-only meeting in the White House Cabinet Room (a sight we probably wont get in real life anytime soon.
The House of Cards team has clearly taken a no-holds-barred approach to this final season, responding to both the political climate and the behind-the-scenes scandal brought on by its own former star Kevin Spacey, who was fired after being accused of sexual misconduct. Spacey apologized to actor Anthony Rapp, who made the first accusation against him, but has remained quiet on subsequent claims; since leaving Cards, he has essentially become an industry pariah.
The trailer for the shows final season also re-introduces many a familiar face, from former White House chief of staff Linda Vasquez (Sakina Jaffrey) to Russian President Viktor Petrov (Lars Mikkelsen). Vicious lapdog Doug Stamper gets a moment of glory as well, asking F.B.I. agent Nathan Green, “Did you think youd seen the last of me?” Hes going to need a little more heft if he wants to get on Emma Robertss level, but its not bad. House of Cards launches on Netflix on November 2.
Get Vanity Fairs HWD NewsletterSign up for essential industry and award news from Hollywood.Full ScreenPhotos:The Must-See Celebrity Sightings at Paris Fashion WeekYohana DestaYohana Desta is a Hollywood writer for VanityFair.com.
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