David Fincher Takes On The HOUSE OF CARDS

Published on October 22, 2009 by Craig Sharp · View Comments

Fincher_House_Of_Cards The House of Cards trilogy, starring Ian Richardson as the remorseless chief whip/Prime Minister Francis Urquhart holds a proud 84th place in the British Film Institute list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes.

The first story – itself titled House of Cards, was originally aired in 1990 and is based on the critically acclaimed novel by Michael Dobbs, a former chief of staff at Conservative Party headquarters. The political drama held UK audiences captive as Urquhart’s story of manipulation and deception unravelled on screen – and now David Fincher is going to take a stab at it.

Media Rights Capital has teamed with David Fincher to adapt the book for U.S. audiences as a one-hour drama, the original series was a four hour serial so it’ll be interesting to see if Fincher is able to maintain a level of detail that would otherwise seem impossible in the hands of lesser men.

The story is set at the end of “Iron Lady” Margaret Thatcher’s term as British Prime Minister and follows a likeable and yet corrupt politician with his eyes set on the to job. According to THR Fincher’s take will be set in the U.S. and will maintain it’s focus on issues of political ambition and blackmail.

It’ll be interesting to see how the show is received by U.S. audiences because after all, there are two more parts to Urquhart’s story before the House of Cards comes tumbling down.