Agnieszka Holland to direct Spacey in House of Cards

House of Cards. Image: Netfix/Press materials

“It's a Shakespearean, opera-like vision of politics,” the Polish director enthused in an interview with movie web site stopklatka.pl.

Although best known for her work in film (In Darkness, The Secret Garden, Washington Square), the Oscar-nominated director is no stranger to the TV format, having already helmed episodes of HBO cop drama The Wire, as well as the US version of Danish hit The Killing.

The pivotal character in House of Cards is Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey), a Machiavellian member of the Democrat party who rises to the top of the tree, aided by his formidable wife Claire (Robin Wright).

The third season is expected to released in early 2015, although there has been no confirmation yet when the crew will start shooting.

Holland's career got off the ground in the 1970s, when she worked as an assistant director to Andrzej Wajda and Krzysztof Zanussi.

Among her recent hits was Burning Bush (2013), a three-part miniseries that explored the aftermath of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. Her 2011 Holocaust drama In Darkness was nominated for an Oscar, although her last work, a two-part new version of the novel Rosemary's Baby for television, received mixed reviews. (nh)