House of Cards season 6: Netflix teases 'fitting' final season without Kevin Spacey

The final eight episodes are expected to premiere later this year

Netflix bosses are teasing the “fitting end” to the sixth and final season of House of Cards.

The series, which lost its co-lead star after the streaming service sung the axe on disgraced actor Kevin Spacey, has been restructured to make its swansong led by Robin Wright's newly-elected Claire Underwood.

Cindy Holland, Netflix's VP original programming, confirmed at the Television Critics Association (TCAs) that season 6 was always “planned” to be its final batch of episodes, stating: “We are proud of the work Robin, the cast and crew have done.”

Deadline reports that she refused to comment on how the series will explain the absence of Spacey's character, stating: “You’ll find out when you watch the show with respect to Frank.”

Holland reflected on the final day of shooting which occurred in Baltimore.

“I can tell you that it was very emotional for a lot of us, me included, to be at the table read for the season,” she said. “Ted (Sarandos), Peter Frielander and I went to Baltimore for the very last day of shooting which was also when they were filming the last scene of the last season, and Robin Wright was directing. It was really powerful and kind of beautiful to see because there is this family that has been build of the cast and crew in Baltimore over six years.

Holland continued: “We had a little party in the oval office at the end of the night, and it was really pretty touching and emotional and powerful. This a series that has been such an important part and always will be an important part of Netflix’s history and I’m really glad that we were able to provide real closure for it.”

House of Cards will return for a shortened season of eight episodes later this year with Diane Lane and Greg Kinnear joining returning cast members Michael Kelly, Jayne Atkinson, Derek Cecil, Patricia Clarkson and Constance Zimmer.

Wright recently broke her silence over the sexual misconduct allegations made against Spacey alongside former House of Cards star Joel Kinnaman.