Netflix has confirmed a Season 3 renewal for House of Cards just 10 days before Season 2 of the hit drama series is set to debut on the streaming service. Production will begin very soon, though Netflix has not revealed how many episodes are contained in this new order. The deal comes after months of intense negotiations.

When Netflix picked up the show in March 2011, they ordered 26 episodes, to be split into two 13-episode seasons. In November, Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos hinted that a Season 3 pickup was happening.

"I think if you look at the original House of Cards, there was a natural third season, and we could go well beyond that. Our intent is that the show keep going for sure. It was a 26-episode commitment. It was not our intent that it just run for two seasons."

The renewal comes as no surprise, given the critical acclaim the show received for Season 1. House of Cards was nominated for nine Emmy Awards and four Golden Globes, with Robin Wright winning the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Drama Series, beating out perennial contenders such as The Good Wife's Julianna Margulies and Scandal's Kerry Washington.

Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright star as Francis and Claire Underwood, who continue their ascent to power through the Washington D.C. political system. Kate Mara, Michael Kelly and Kristen Connolly co-star in the political drama series, which was created by Beau Willimon.

While House of Cards has been a huge hit with fans and critics alike, it has never been publicized how many people actual watch the show, as Netflix does not reveal its ratings, and continues to keep its streaming stats a secret. While House of Cards Season 1 had an exclusive window on the streaming service, it is now available on DVD and Blu-ray and multiple on-demand services.

Netflix has also recently given out second season orders for Hemlock Grove and Orange Is the New Black, as well as a third season for Lilyhammer. Netflix is also continuing negotiations for future installments of Arrested Development, though it is not known if this will be a full fifth season or a movie, or multiple movies. The streaming service also has confirmed four Marvel TV series, including Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Daredevil, which will culminate in The Defenders miniseries.

Season 2 of House of Cards will be released in its entirety on February 14, exclusively on Netflix.