New ‘House of Cards’ to be filmed in Baltimore

Netflix, the online movie and television service, has tapped Maryland as the backdrop for its first-ever venture into original dramatic programming, state film officials announced Thursday.

“House of Cards” will star Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey and its pilot will be directed by David Fincher, whose recent credits include “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and “The Social Network.”

The Maryland Film Office estimates the series of 13 hour-long episodes will spur $75 million in spending in the state and create more than 2,000 jobs for local crew, actors and extras.

“This will be one of the largest projects in a long time,” said Jack Gerbes, director of the film office. “This will probably be, in the number of production days, similar or larger than [one season of] The Wire.”

Gov. Martin O’Malley said in a written statement that he is “extremely pleased that filmmakers of this caliber have chosen Maryland as the location for this series.”

The governor said he expects the filming to benefit “hundreds of Maryland businesses.”

The announcement comes on the heels of two politically themed HBO projects — the first season of the TV series “VEEP” and the film “Game Change” — that were shot in Baltimore.

“House of Cards” is based on a British novel and miniseries of the same name about a high-ranking official in Parliament. The Netflix version will be set in the American political system.

Netflix reportedly outbid cable heavies HBO and AMC to land the series.

The state film office credited location, Maryland’s production workforce and a new state incentive program for helping woo “House of Cards” producers.

“It’s a political, D.C.-based story,” Gerbes said. “We have the same architecture. It allows them the opportunity to occasionally go down to D.C. And we have a strong crew here.”

The General Assembly passed a tax credit program last year for film production expenses. The program sets aside $7.5 million a year for three years to cover up to 25 percent of film production costs and 27 percent of the costs to produce a television series.

Gerbes said the state has not determined how much “House of Cards” will receive in tax credits.

Maryland beat out Atlanta for the Netflix series, said David O’Ferrall, the business agent for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 487.

“Right now, it … comes down to the money,” he said. “Before, when it came to the crew base and locations, we were at the top of the heap outside of New York and LA.”

O’Ferrall said “House of Cards” will employ hundreds of technicians in his union who would otherwise be searching for work in Virginia, Michigan or Massachusetts.

Media Rights Capital, the production company behind the series, is set to begin filming this spring in Baltimore and its suburbs.

Gerbes said the company is still finalizing production details and will open offices in the area in the next week or two.

“All the counties in the region have really come to bat, and [Media Rights Capital is] trying to figure out exactly where they’re going to go,” Gerbes said.

He said preparation and filming could last eight to 10 months.

Gerbes and O’Ferrall said the unique, online-only distribution method and subject matter — Congress’ approval rating is in the single digits — don’t diminish the impact that “House of Cards” will have on the state’s film industry.

“It’s a big, big deal,” said O’Ferrall. “I don’t judge on content. I’m just glad that they’re here.”