'House of Cards' season 5 news: Two new characters join political drama; cast and crew spotted filming in Baltimore County Council chambers

Two new characters have been added to Netflix's gripping political thriller "House of Cards" season 5.

Season 5 picks up where the previous installment left off, with President Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his First Lady, Claire (Robin Wright), deciding to take the country to war. Their next move is an effort to boost approval ratings as they prepare for the approaching election season.

With only a few months before its premiere, the series has added new faces to the cast: Patricia Clarkson and Campbell Scott. Details about the roles they will play are still being kept under wraps. News of Scott and Clarkson's casting comes after actor Mahershala Ali, who's currently an Oscar nominee for his role in "Moonlight," announced that he won't be returning for season 5.

Emmy award-winning actress Clarkson's acting credits include roles in HBO's "Six Feet Under," "The Maze Runner," and "Shutter Island." Scott, on the other hand, is known for playing Richard Parker in two "The Amazing Spider-Man" installments and as a recurring character in USA's "Royal Pains."

In other news, the cast and crew were spotted filming at the Baltimore County Council Chambers in Towson, Md. on Thursday. A council spokeswoman confirmed that the show was indeed filming scenes in the area at the time, although there were no details on which actors were present during the shoot. Baltimore Councilman Todd K. Crandell also posted an image of the fictional "U.S. House of Representatives" seal placed inside the chambers via Twitter.

The spokeswoman told The Washington Post that due to an agreement with the series, the people working in the area aren't allowed to "speak publicly about their operations." However, she did say it's not the first time the chambers was used as a set for "House of Cards," adding that the county is being paid for allowing the TV crew to use its facilities.

The fifth season of "House of Cards" premieres on Tuesday, May 30, on Netflix.