Beau Willimon, the creator of Netflix's smash series House of Cards, held a Twitter Q&A last week with fans.
For 30 minutes, he fielded questions about the series and his personal life, chatting about his favorite shows, doling out writing advice and gushing about the excellence of Kevin Spacey.
Im doing a 30min pre-launch @HouseofCards Q&A at 3pm EST (12 PT) today. No spoilers! Pass the word. @netflix pic.twitter.com/hIKPFgPRc5— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 9, 2014
The show's second season launched on Feb. 14, and many fans have already raced through all 13 episodes. If you're one of them, check out our three-part series review.
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1. His favorite show of all time? The Wire.
@genghis_cohen_ My favorite show of all time is THE WIRE. BREAKING BAD = Genius. Also love SURVIVORMAN as far as reality-TV goes.— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 9, 2014
It's always nice to know what show creators like to binge on themselves.
2. Claire Underwood is the most difficult character.
@mindtheGAP90 Claire - in a good way. She's so enigmatic and tough to pin down, which is one of her strengths.— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 9, 2014
Claire, played by Robin Wright, is the cool and cunning wife of the divisive Frank Underwood.
3. The show's main political consultant is Jay Carson.
@gregorybent My best friend and political wunderkind Jay Carson is our main pol consultant. And yeah, how cool about Prez Obama!— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 9, 2014
Carson is a Democratic operative, and was used as a basis for Ryan Gosling's campaign manager character in the dark political film The Ides of March (based on the play Farragut North, written by -- yup -- Beau Willimon). And yes, Barack Obama is a fan of the show.
4. Why is Frank Underwood from South Carolina?
@JeffryHalverson Because my Dad is from there. I love SC. We still have a goat farm outside of Greenville. And rich political history.— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 9, 2014
Now we know Willimon's family history and that he has a goat farm.
5. Willimon loves writing Freddy.
@msamysteele I love writing for them all. Of course writing for Kev and Robin is pure joy. But I have a special fondness for Freddy.— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 9, 2014
Actor Reg E. Cathey plays Freddy, the gravel-voiced owner of a ribs joint. Cathey was also an actor on The Wire. Things are coming full circle.
6. Writing a season takes seven months.
@DarcyShull Stoked indeed! We've already begun work. Takes roughly seven months to write a season. We'll begin filming before we finish.— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 9, 2014
In an earlier tweet, Willimon shared that the staff has been writing Season 3 for a month. One down, six more to go.
7. (Spoiler alert) Frank's sexuality won't be defined.
@Duff1512 More interested in how the audience interprets it than giving answers. I do think Frank would find those sort of labels limiting.— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 9, 2014
In season one, Frank alluded to a relationship with another man in his college days. In season two, he engages in sexual acts with another man, despite being married to a woman.
8. No Kevin Spacey = No House of Cards
@ricardog90 Kevin was our ONLY choice. And if said no, we might not have done the show. There can only be one Underwood and it's Kevin!— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 9, 2014
Willimon was intent on casting the Oscar-winning actor.
9. Willimon's favorite scene from Season 1 is...
@carlosrubi I have so many. But the garage scene with Russo is a big one. Kevin and Corey knocked it out of the ballpark on that one.— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 9, 2014
(Spoiler alert) He's likely referring to the scene in which Frank Underwood (Spacey) leaves a drunk and depressed Peter Russo (played by Corey Stoll) in a car in a garage, where he eventually passes out and dies of asphyxiation.
10. Willimon's not interested in directing.
@jopleuven My focus is writing and working with the directors and actors to make sure the story is clear. Tackling 800 pages is full-time!— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 9, 2014
On the other hand, cast members Spacey and Wright have both directed episodes.
11. Advice to aspiring writers:
@christalamia Know what they NEED more than anything else in the world. Everything else will stem from that.— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 9, 2014
Wise words from a man who has been nominated for a writing Oscar and Golden Globe (for Ides of March).