The ghost of D.C. and Hollywood’s last intense fling filled the Newseum at the premiere for “House of Cards.” As the press gaggle waited for series executive producer/director David Fincher (who slipped away before the red carpet) and Kevin Spacey (“Rep. Frank Underwood”) a question remained: how would this compare to “K Street,” the last premium program that brought us all together. Coincidentally, “House of Cards,” which premieres Friday on Netflix, has a great chance to surpass previous feelings for George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh‘s lobbying series because of Beau Willimon. The former Howard Dean staffer turned playwright handled adaptation duties for “House” from the original novel and 1990 BBC mini-series. Willimon previously dealt with Beltway issues and drama with 2004’s Off-Off Broadway “Farragut North,” which he would later adapt for Clooney into the Oscar-nominated Best Adapted Screenplay”The Ides of March.”
Talking to Huffington Post, Willimon commented on the nature of D.C. and how ripe it is for drama:
Check out the other video interview with actress Kate Mara below along with our slideshow of who else attended a night filled with Bobby Darin songs.
Along with the cast of “House of Cards,” also in attendance were original author Michael Dobbs, director James Foley, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, CEO Media Rights Capital CEO Asif Satchu, George and Elizabeth Stevens, FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, Ambassador Lloyd and Ann Hand, Reggie Love, Linda Douglass and John Phillips, Joanne Horowitz, Ambassador Kristen Silverberg and David Haddad. Take a look at our slideshow to see other photos from the event including the Netflix Instant napkin.