Netflix has confirmed that its hit drama House of Cards will return for a fifth season – but said its creator and showrunner Beau Willimon will be leaving the series.

Playwright and Oscar-nominated screenwriter Willimon – who is also an executive producer on House of Cards – has steered the show into becoming an international hit. He has also written more than 20 of the episodes to date.

“Prior to its fourth-season premiere, Netflix and [producers] Media Rights Capital are thrilled to announce that House of Cards will return for a fifth season in 2017. Concurrent with the renewal, creator and showrunner Beau Willimon is departing the critically acclaimed series,” Netflix said in a statement on Thursday.

“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. 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.”

Willimon said in a statement: “I’m grateful to Netflix and MRC, my fellow executive producers, our two incandescent stars Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, our talented writers, as well as the incredible cast and crew with whom I’ve had the privilege to work.

“After five years and four seasons, it’s time for me to move on to new endeavours, but I’m supremely proud of what we’ve built together, wish the show much continued success, and leave it in the hands of a very capable team.”

Netflix is yet to announce a replacement for Willimon, but the show has a large team of executive producers, including director David Fincher, who could potentially step into the role.



Season four of the Kevin Spacey drama is scheduled to launch on 4 March, and the first full trailer landed this week.