Emmy-award winning composer Jeff Beal has just been signed to compose the score for David Fincher's highly anticipated original series for Netflix, House of Cards, a political thriller starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright.
Netflix has committed to 26 episodes of the serialized drama, based on a BBC mini-series from the 1990s. Originally written as a novel by former UK Conservative Party Chief of Staff Michael Dobbs, House of Cards explores the ruthless underside of British politics at the end of the Thatcher era. Reset against the backdrop of modern-day U.S. electoral politics, this one hour drama follows Spacey as an ambitious politician with his eye on the top job. On this new project, Beal will be reunited with producer John Melfi, a prior collaborator as an executive producer on HBO's Rome. David Fincher will be directing the first two episodes and serving as the production's executive producer.
Jeff Beal has two upcoming theatrical releases in 2012. Opening May 4th, Last Call at the Oasis reunites Beal with Oscar award winning director Jessica Yu. Financed and executive produced by Participant Media, (Food, Inc. and An Inconvenient Truth) Last Call at the Oasis argues that the global water crisis will be the central issue facing our world this century.
Opening this summer is The Queen of Versailles. The documentary follows a billionaire couple who attempt to construct a 90,000-square-foot mansion inspired by Versailles, built on the success of their time-share industry. It received raves and much notice as the opening film at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, where Beal and director Lauren Greenfield attended the premiere. Beal's score features a chamber orchestra with a neoclassical flavor, highlighting the aspirations of the films' protagonists.
Earlier this year, Beal composed music for three episodes of HBO's series, Luck, working with executive producer Michael Mann. He also returned to his comedic side, reuniting with Ugly Betty producer Victor Nelli, Jr. for ABC's new series set in Dallas, GCB.