In an interesting move, Netflix has made the decision to jump into the original programming pool. And with the talent they’ve managed to bring together, you can say they’re ready to make a giant splash. David Fincher (The Social Network) has signed on to direct the pilot House of Cards starring Kevin Spacey, a serialized one hour drama that explores the ruthless underside of British politics at the end of the Thatcher era. Reset against the backdrop of modern-day U.S. electoral politics, the show follows an ambitious politician (Spacey) with his eye on the top job. House of Cards is based on a 1990 Michael Dobbs novel which was turned into a four-part miniseries by the BBC that same year. The program will stream exclusively with Netflix when it releases in spring 2012. The streaming service has committed to 26 episodes (two 13-episode seasons) with Media Rights Capital producing it. Fincher will remain with the show serving as executive producer and over the next few months MRC will assemble teams of producers and actors. In a similar vein to Kiefer Sutherland’s The Confession (airing on Hulu later this month), House of Cards could be a game-changer in terms of original content distribution. Full PR after the break.

[Via Deadline; Netflix]

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