Netflix is keeping its first hit original series alive, although the fifth season of House of Cards will be running under new leadership.
The streaming site announced the news on the show’s Facebook and Twitter pages. The decision comes a few weeks before the fourth season debuts on March 4.
However, showrunner Beau Willimon is leaving. A source told The Hollywood Reporter that he plans on writing an original play. He was previously nominated for an Oscar for co-writing George Clooney’s The Ides of March.
“Netflix and MRC owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Beau Willimon for his strong narrative vision for House of Cards over the show’s first four seasons,” Netflix said in a statement Thursday. “As an Academy Award-nominated writer, he made his first foray into television and built a riveting and critically acclaimed series, establishing his place in TV history. The producers, cast and crew join us in wishing Beau the best in his next creative adventure.”
House of Cards is based on the BBC series of the same name and launched in 2013. Although season three wasn’t as well received as the first two, the show still earned multiple awards nominations. Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright have both won Golden Globes for their performances.