‘At its heart, it’s all about addiction.
Before we ever started [production], Beau said, Dont emote.
So I said, Okay, I can do that.
Credit: David Giesbrecht/Netflix
(And Stamper deals with him in the most Stamper way possible.)
Its all twisted, dark, and very much Stamper.
The first major shocker wasthe one with Seth and the glass, when Stamper suffocates him out of anger.
David Giesbrecht/Netflix
How did that come together?
MICHAEL KELLY:Right?
That one was difficult on a number of levels.
They had the chair rigged so when I threw him down, it wouldnt slam his head too hard.
The main concern was to not get his head to bounce off the ground.
Im talking to the floor.
I was like, Beau, this is fed up.
[Laughs] He killed her husband, and now hes going to start a relationship with her?
I was like, This is sick.
But at its core, its addiction, you know?…
And he keeps looking and looking andlookingand it gets weirder and weirder and weirder!
The Underwoods are obviously scary, but Doug isscary.
Hes so emotionally stunted.
How do you get into that mindset?
Hes not exactly evil; hes complicated.
At its heart, its all about addiction.
Frank, work, alcohol, Rachel, everything, you know?
Beau said to me before we ever started, Dont emote.
At the end of season 1, I want everyone to say, What the f is up withthatguy?
From that came Dougs voice and the fact that he never smiles.
Beau laid the groundwork for that character, and I just had to say the words.
Is there anything you do before each take to capture that voice and that stare?
No, it just sort of comes up.
That blank stare says so much about the guy, its scary.
You just went there.
Im like, Sure, yeah, if thats what you want.
[Laughs] I know, its creepy, but I do it cause it makes their day.
Beau Willimon isleaving as showrunner after this season.
What are your thoughts on season 5, on getting two new showrunners?
Im a hundred percent behind them …
If we couldnt have Beau, I think the next best thing was to replace him internally.
I love both of them, but I will miss Beau so much.
We became very good friends.
[Laughs] I mean, I cant say enough good things about Beau Willimon.
How do these parallels affect the way you perceive the show?
And then [Laughs], whoa, we see it!
Neve Campbellsaid the same thing.
Whats happening now [in real life] is just insane.
Well, maybe theyll watchHouse of Cardsand go, Huh.
Maybe,weretaking things too far.
[Laughs] Maybe theyll watch and think, Maybe we should tone it down a little bit.
House of Cardsseason 4 is streaming on Netflix.
