Primetime Emmy® Award Winner Andrew Davies Brings You House of Cards Trilogy Remastered

NEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- From Primetime Emmy® Award winner Andrew Davies, the writer of internationally renowned films such as Bridget Jones's Diary and miniseries such as Pride and Prejudice, comes the digitally remastered premiere of House of Cards for the first time ever on Blu-ray on February 5, 2013. Davies' original BBC adaptation of Michael Dobbs' bestselling novels, House Of Cards Trilogy, made its cable debut on Masterpiece Theater in the U.S. and went on to earn Davies his first Primetime Emmy® (for "House of Cards," the first part of the trilogy). BBC Home Entertainment brings to the shelves the best of British drama, remastered and newly released, and House of Cards, considered the godfather of modern political thrillers, is a true classic that must not be missed.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130124/NY48085 )

"Not only is BBC Home Entertainment releasing fantastic new shows into the marketplace, we are dedicated to remastering the gems that are currently in our library. We are bringing the best of British television back to our audience in the latest technical standards. Our shows are recognized as being amongst the best that television has to offer, and as a film and television aficionado, I want to see these take their appropriate place alongside such classics as The Godfather, E.T. and Gone With The Wind. I believe that great television deserves to be acknowledged the same way that great films do – by having a permanent place in your home collection," says Soumya Sriraman, EVP Home Entertainment and Licensing for BBC Worldwide America.

This delicious tale of political greed, corruption and burning ambition features a full deck of renowned British talent headlined by Ian Richardson (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), who turns in a "scarily perfect performance" (The New York Times) as the Machiavellian statesman who discovers that rising to power is just the beginning- and staying there can be just as challenging.

In House Of Cards, Francis Urquhart pulls the strings behind his party's parliamentary facade, and he has no qualms about using that power to reach the highest office in the land – even if it means scheming and backstabbing his way to the top until he is standing on a pile of broken promises, betrayals and the bodies of those who oppose him. One by one his opponents tumble, until at last there is just one wild card left in the pack.

In To Play The King, the sardonic politico's schemes have brought him to the pinnacle of government, but at the moment of his triumph, an idealistic and determined young King stands in his way. How far will Urquhart go to maintain his grip on his growing power? As he threatens to expose a royal scandal, he seems unstoppable.  But someone out there knows the secret that could bring him down.

And in The Final Cut, Urquhart is now Prime Minister and nearing the end of his term. Though he plans to let international events help him to a luxurious retirement, he finds himself caught in someone else's power play, and for the first time is unable to see a way out.  Will he outwit his enemies one last time, or will his long career end in disgrace and defeat?

Bonus features include:

• audio commentaries on select episodes with Ian Richardson and Andrew Davies
• an interview with Andrew Davies on the To Play The King controversy
• "Westminster: Behind Closed Doors" featurette

Street Date: February 5, 2013
Suggested Retail Price: DVD $39.98 ($49.98 in Canada)
          Blu-ray $49.99 ($62.48 in Canada)
Length: Approx. 617 mins + bonus features / 4-disc set (DVD)/ 3-disc set (Blu-ray)

About BBC Worldwide Americas:

BBC Worldwide is the main commercial arm and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). BBC Worldwide Americas brings together all of BBC Worldwide businesses across North and South America. The company exists to maximize the value of the BBC's assets for the benefit of the UK license payer, and invests in public service programming in return for rights. The company has five core businesses: Channels, Content & Production, Sales & Distribution, Consumer Products and Digital.  Under these businesses fall two key brands in the U.S. – digital cable channel BBC AMERICA and BBC Worldwide Productions, the production arm responsible for the smash hit Dancing with the Stars.

SOURCE BBC Worldwide Americas