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"Months before Netflix debuted House of Cards\u00A0in 2013, Kevin Spacey toured the globe in a production of Richard III as the play's namesake. The role, documented in the new film NOW: in the Wings on a World Stage, helped Spacey hone his ruthless television persona for\u00A0the political series' manipulative antihero Frank Underwood.\n\"I know that many of you may think Ferris Bueller invented 'direct address,' but he didn\u2019t \u2014 it was actually Shakespeare,\" Spacey said at NOW screening in New York City. In an separate interview with Mashable, he added that he drew inspiration from Richard III's soliloquies to mold Underwood's fourth-wall breakage.\nSee also: 'House of Cards' Review: Scandals and Power Trips Rejuvenate Season 2\n\"What it taught me in terms of what I now get to do in House of Cards is that people really dug it,\" he said. \"It was like there was this naughty glee in their eyes; people really like being co-conspirators ... but the memory of those faces all around the world really has helped me understand how to play that direct address in House of Cards.\"\nIn a way, Spacey's self-distributed NOW shows us the beginnings of his portrayal of Frank Underwood, a character based on Francis Urquhart from Michael Dobbs' House of Cards book trilogy and the British TV version. Both of the fictional power-hungry men were partially inspired by King Richard III of England.\nNOW gives glimpses of Richard III's Machiavellian rise to power, detailing the traveling play's onstage and offstage antics through candid scenes and interviews with cast members. Meanwhile, House of Cards' two seasons so far have enthralled viewers with Underwood's merciless sprint toward a political finish line \u2014 the presidency \u2014 while coping with the threat of his and his wife's downfall through dark humor.\nSpacey noted both \"have to depict how other human beings are going to respond to allow both of these characters to be about 16 chess moves ahead of every body else.\"\n\nKevin Spacey stars as Frank Underwood in House of Cards.Image:  Nathaniel Bell/NetflixThe similarities between both pieces of work extend beyond just the nature of power. Two actors in NOW also have parts in House of Cards: Nathan Darrow as Underwood's very close security guard Edward Meechum and Jeremy Bobb as journalist Nick Henslow.\n\"I tried to get nearly everybody in Richard III an audition for House of Cards,\" Spacey said. \"It\u2019s always a nice thing to work with people again that you know that you get along with.\"\nAside from bourbon, a vice of Underwood's is video games. Offscreen, coincidentally, Spacey has immersed himself in the gaming world as well \u2014 he'll be playing and voicing a villain in the upcoming Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. During our phone interview, Spacey stayed mum about Call of Duty but he said the trailer, below, should speak for itself.\n\nUnsurprisingly, Spacey also remained tightlipped about the future of House of Cards, specifically in regard to season three: \"I\u2019m sworn to secrecy. I\u2019m afraid I can\u2019t say anything about it except to say I\u2019m sure there\u2019s going to be some words, there\u2019s going to be some scenes and we\u2019re going to film it. We\u2019re having the time of our lives. It\u2019s the best job ever.\"\nSee also: 'House of Cards' Season 3 Sneak Peek Wins April Fools' Day\nWhat Spacey is certain of, though, is NOW will clear up confusion about why he loves theater so much and why he and director Sam Mendes joined forces offscreen for Richard III (they previously partnered on Oscar Best Picture winner American Beauty in 1999).\n\"Over the last decade, I've sort of gotten used to a whole bunch of people who look at me oddly that I\u2019m such a theater rat,\" he said. \"Sometimes people don\u2019t really understand why theater means so much to me or they ask me, 'Don\u2019t you get bored doing the same play every night?' ... I\u2019ve made the film to be able to answer some of those questions.\"\n\nKevin Spacey performs during the rehearsal of Richard III at Epidaurus.Image: Dimitri Messinis/Associated PressRichard III was physically challenging for Spacey, not only because he and the cast performed the play 200 times across three continents, but also because of the king's hunchback posture. Spacey crouched forward wearing a hump for the entirety of the play as well as used a leg brace, a gloved wooden hand and cane. \"It looked like it was almost painful,\" he said. \"The last moment in the play where they hang me upside down was the most awesome moment. It was a great stretch after crumpling myself up all night.\"\nLike an athlete building adrenaline before competition, Spacey would get into his hunchback stance offstage and wobble in anticipation as sweat dripped off his face between scenes of Richard III. NOW, which is available (discount code: Mashable)\u00A0via distribution platform VHX, taps into behind-the-scenes moments like that to propel the film's intimate aura.\n\nHave something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.\nBONUS: The Complete Workout Guide for Binge Watchers\n\n\nBinge Watching Work Outs\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n1. House of Cards\n\n\nDo a pushup every time Frank breaks the fourth wall.\nDo crunches repeatedly while Frank and Claire share a cigarette.\nDo lunges while Frank uses his rowing machine.\n\n\nImage: Tumblr therowinglife\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n2. Orange is the New Black\n\n\nDo jumping jacks every time they flashback, for the entire duration of the flashback.\nDo 5 situps every time Piper talks to Larry on the phone.\nDo 5 pushups every time Pennsatucky preaches her gospel.\n\n\nImage: Tumblr coriolanusn0w\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n3. Breaking Bad\n\n\nDo a situp every time Jesse says \"bitch.\"\nDo 5 jumping jacks every time Walt tells his wife a flimsy lie.\nDo 5 chair-dips every time Walt Jr. mentions breakfast.\n\n\nImage: Tumblr cheeksandwings\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n4. Mad Men\n\n\nDo 5 calf-raises whenever Don says something profound.\nDo a pushup every time they drink alcohol.\nDo a situp every time they smoke a cigarette.\n\n\nImage: Tumblr fyeahmm\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n5. Game of Thrones\n\n\nDo 5 jumping jacks every time a main character dies.\nDo 5 situps every time you see boobs.\nDo 5 lunges every time they mention that winter is coming.\n\n\nImage: Tumblr i-will-take-what-is-mine\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n6. Sherlock\n\n\nDo jumping jacks every time Sherlock goes to his \"mind palace.\"\nDo 5 squats every time John looks confused.\nDo 5 pushups every time Sherlock forgets Lestrade's name.\n\n\nImage: Tumblr superwholockalypse\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n7. The Walking Dead\n\n\nTouch your toes every time Rick says \"stuff\" or \"things.\"\nDo 5 lunges every time Carl disobeys his dad.\nDo 5 pushups every time Michonne makes a stink face.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n8. Twin Peaks\n\n\nDo 5 lunges every time Dale talks to Diane on his tape recorder.\nDo 5 pushups every time Dale enjoys a \"damn good\" cup of coffee.\nDo a weird dance every time the moody music plays.\n\n\nImage: Tumblr giphy\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n9. Doctor Who\n\n\nWhen they run, you run (in place, or on a treadmill if you have one).\nDo 5 chair-dips every time the Doctor lands in the wrong time.\nDo 5 crunches every time the Doctor mentions bananas.\n\n\nImage: Tumblr doctortomyriver\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n10. Supernatural\n\n\nDo 5 pushups every time Dean refers to the Impala as his \"baby.\" \nDo 5 situps every time Dean asks for pie.\nDo jumping jacks for the duration of every classic rock song that plays over a montage.\n\n\nImage: Tumblr supernaturalimagine\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n11. The X-Files\n\n\nDo a pushup every time Scully rolls her eyes at Mulder's alien accusations.\nDo 5 crunches every time they get called into Skinner's office.\nDo 5 calf-raises every time Scully has to do an autopsy.\n\n\nImage: Tumblr perfectopposite\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n12. Buffy the Vampire Slayer\n\n\nDo a jumping jack every time Buffy dusts a vamp.\nDo 5 crunches every time Willow is shy.\nDo 5 chair-dips every time Xander breaks the tension with humor.\n\n\nImage: Tumblr buffywinchester\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n13. Firefly\n\n\nDo a pushup every time someone says \"shiny.\"\nDo 5 crunches every time they speak Chinese.\nDo 5 lunges every time Book quotes the Bible.\n\n\nImage: Tumblr hawkeblocking\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n14. Arrested Development\n\n\nWhen they dance like a chicken, you dance like a chicken.\nDo 5 pushups every time G.O.B. makes a \"huge mistake.\"\nDo 5 crunches every time Tobias uses a double entendre without realizing it.\n\n\nImage: Tumblr whatisthisfuckary13\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n15. The Office\n\n\nDo a jumping jack every time Michael says something inappropriate.\nDo 5 lunges every time Pam and Jim prank Dwight\nDo 5 pushups every time Dwight takes something too seriously.\n\n\nImage: Tumblr domwardd\n\n\n\n\n"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2014/05/07/kevin-spacey-now-film-house-of-cards/>