Danish actor Lars Mikkelsen portrayed Russian president Viktor Petrov in House of Cards on Netflix. The show reaped a favorable reception and multiple accolades. It was a global smash hit, and besides Mikkelsen, it also starred Baby Driver alum Kevin Spacey. The series’ popularity was skyrocketing, and the creators were gearing up for the sixth season’s production in October 2017.
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However, Spacey’s involvement was obstructed following allegations of s*xual misconduct against the Oscar-winning American actor. Netflix cut all ties with the Pay It Forward star. On October 30, 2017, the series’ production was halted. It was also announced that the series would be canceled after its sixth season. Many sources, however, claimed that the decision to conclude the show was set even before the accusations came to light.
Without Spacey’s character, President Frank Underwood, the showrunners had to rethink the entire narrative, and several modifications were made to the screenplay. In a 2019 interview, Lars Mikkelsen discussed the unexpected absence and how it felt for the rest of the cast members to acclimate to the sudden shift.
Lars Mikkelsen On Working On A Spacey-Less Season Of House Of Cards
House of Cards‘ primary protagonist was the Kevin Spacey-embodied character. With the actor embroiled in s*xual misbehavior allegations in late 2017, his subsequent withdrawal from the series created a quandary of concluding the series in a way that made sense and was also satisfying. In a Guardian interview, Lars Mikkelsen, who played Russian President Viktor Petrov in the political thriller drama, was asked about The Usual Suspects actor’s absence from the sixth season.
The interviewer asked if the ‘Spacey-less’ set suffered from a tense environment. After all, the entire series had been thrown for a loop without the primary lead. In response, Mikkelsen commented:
“I got in so late in the last season—there were doubts about whether it was going to happen at all—that everyone had settled by then. People just wanted to finish it off as well as possible. So I didn’t really feel any tension. But of course, it was strange that he [Kevin Spacey] wasn’t there. That was weird.”
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Presumably referencing the allegations that had surfaced against Spacey, the Danish actor had the following to state:
“All I can say is that he was nice to me, man. And a phenomenal actor. It’s sad, really sad.”
When asked about the possibility of the Ahsoka alum subsequently contacting Spacey, Mikkelsen confessed that he didn’t know the latter personally. He then emphasized the distinctions between his projects in Denmark and those in Hollywood.
Lars Mikkelsen Didn’t Know House Of Cards Co-Star Kevin Spacey
Two actors can work on the same project without getting to know each other well, and that was the case for Mikkelsen and Spacey. Although the controversy upset the former, he affirmed not being acquainted with the American Beauty star. The Danish actor further divulged that he barely knew any of the people on House of Cards. Following was his statement:
“No! I don’t know the man. That’s the difference between working in Denmark and outside. I didn’t really know any of the people on House of Cards. In Denmark, we go out and have beers.”
According to the Sherlock star, there was no sign of unrest or unease about Kevin Spacey during Mikkelsen’s time on the set of the final season of the Netflix show. He further dismissed the possibility of any rumors or gossip about Spacey occurring during the filming process, primarily because Mikkelsen was only there for a few days:
“I never heard [any gossip] really. But for that final season, I was maybe there four days.”
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When asked about the #MeToo movement gaining traction in Scandinavian showbiz, Mikkelsen firmly declared, “It’s a necessary movement. Predators have no place in the business.”
Only a few months ago, news broke that Kevin Spacey had been acquitted of all charges following a London trial on claims of s*xual assault that surfaced against him in the past few years. In a 2022 trial in New York, Spacey was likewise cleared of any misconduct. This happened after Anthony Rapp had filed a lawsuit against Spacey in 2020.
House of Cards is available for streaming on Netflix.
Source: Guardian
