Diplomats say Russia has refused to allow the U.S. television series House of Cards to film in the U.N. Security Council chamber.

The show's producers approached the United Nations, and the 15 council members were asked whether they would allow the use of the chamber when the council wasn't in session, but Russia said "no," the diplomats said.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions were private.

"It's disappointing for you, I guess, because you wanted to see the actors," France's U.N. Ambassador Gerard Araud told reporters Wednesday.

The Washington-based series stars Kevin Spacey as conniving politician Francis Underwood and Robin Wright as his wife.

"It's reassuring because I think the actors would have seemed so much more elegant than we are, you know," Araud said, laughing.