House of Cards adds Diane Lane and Greg Kinnear to cast as production resumes without shamed star Kevin Spacey

PRODUCTION has resumed on the next series of Netflix drama House of Cards.

Work on the political thriller was halted when allegations of sexual assault and harassment emerged against lead actor Kevin Spacey in October last year.

It was announced that he would not be returning in the sixth and final season, with the focus shifted onto his character’s wife, played by Robin Wright.

Joining the cast for the eight-episode run are Oscar nominees Diane Lane and Greg Kinnear, with Michael Kelly, Jayne Atkinson, Patricia Clarkson, Constance Zimmer, Derek Cecil, Campbell Scott and Boris McGiver also starring.

Lane is best known for role in 2002 film Unfaithful, which was nominated for both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.

Kinnear is currently starring in Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams and is an Emmy Award winner.

Storylines for the show have been re-written to remove Spacey from the show entirely.

In the book on which the series is set, written by British author and Tory peer Michael Dobbs, the character of Frank Underwood dies, which may give a clue as to how Netflix producers have removed Spacey from the show.

The company severed all ties with the 58-year-old, who was also set to star in their Gore Vidal biopic, after he was accused of sexually assaulting actor Anthony Rapp when Rapp was 14-years-old.

He has since faced further allegations which are still being investigated.