‘House of Cards’ receives Maryland tax credit

Kevin Spacey as U.S. Congressman Frank Underwood in a scene from the Netflix original series, "House of Cards." (The Associated Press)

The Netflix series “House of Cards” will shoot its third season in Maryland after reaching a deal with Governor Martin O’Malley reports Variety.

Production company Media Rights Capital had threaten to leave the state because it looked like Maryland would fall short of meeting the same level of tax credits the show received in previous seasons, igniting a debate among lawmakers over the value of incentives. Some elected officials said that the company’s position felt like extortion.

The show will receive a total of $11.5 million this year — less than the $15 million the production company had been reportedly expecting but apparently enough to stay in the state.

The series had delayed the start of season three to June as state lawmakers raced to come up with funding. Although the Maryland General Assembly came up short in boosting its tax credit program earlier this month, O’Malley’s office said that they negotiated with MRC in the weeks since then to come up with the $11.5 million package that includes productions credits and state budget grants.

“Spoiler alert: We’re going to keep the 3,700 jobs and more than $100 million of economic activity and investment that ‘House of Cards’ generates right here in Maryland,” O’Malley said in a statement. “Media Rights Capital has been a great supporter of the people and entertainment community in Maryland, and we couldn’t be happier to continue our partnership.”

Asif Satchu, co-CEO of MRC, said that the show “is the gift that keeps on giving, having injected hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy, while also helping to provide thousands of jobs to our Maryland community.”