New House of Cards trailer hints at what the show will be like without Kevin Spacey

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Netflix have released the first teaser trailer for political drama House of Cards' sixth season - the first without previous star Kevin Spacey.

Due to be released on the streaming service in Autumn this year, the upcoming eight-episode series is being billed as the final instalment of what was Netflix's first self-commissioned original content series.

Season six will see Robin Wright (who plays Claire Underwood) take over as programme lead, after former star Spacey was fired from the show in November 2017 following allegations of sexual misconduct.

Distancing the show from Spacey

The freshly released teaser opens with a slow zoom towards a painting of former president, Bill Clinton - who faced allegations of sexual misconduct while in office.

Two White House staffers round a corner and walk purposefully towards the camera, keeping their backs to the portrait - perhaps a nod towards the show's detachment from Spacey.

Disgraced former star Kevin Spacey will not return for the final season of House of Cards (Photo: David Giesbrecht / Netflix)

The camera then travels through the White House, passing many busy staff members frantically working.

As we enter the Oval Office, Claire Underwood is revealed sat at the desk with her back to the door, her signature blonde bob making the character instantly recognisable.

'Just getting started'

Claire turns to face the camera, plants both hands firmly on the desk in front of her and stands.

"We're just getting started," she says, looking straight into the lens and breaking the fourth wall, as Spacey's character, Frank Underwood, once did regularly.

'Hail to the Chief' reads the next title card, leaving no question as to who is President in the House of Cards universe now.

Some fans have pointed out the irony of Claire's "just getting started" line in a trailer for the distinctly short final series of the programme.

However, all manner of meanings could be taken from the loaded statement. Perhaps the show's creators are "just getting started" in standing up to the kind of toxic behaviour Spacey and others working in Hollywood have been accused of.

Wright has already proven to be a dominating presence on-screen in earlier seasons of the programme

Perhaps it is a comment on the ongoing political unrest in the USA, and a nod to those calling for someone to go head-to-head with Donald Trump.

It could even be a gender-based statement - while Hillary Clinton was defeated during her bid for the US presidency, she has undoubtedly paved the way for female politicians in the future.

Regardless, Wright has asserted her authority as a dominating screen presence from the beginning of House of Cards, and deserves a chance to step into the spotlight. It's up to the show's writers now to spin a compelling last waltz for the groundbreaking production.

House of Cards is due to return to Netflix in the Autumn

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Originally published on our sister site, iNews