The Emmy Award-winning Netflix series about the British Royal family, The Crown, is set to return for its fifth season in November 2022.
Currently in production on its sixth season, filming has halted following the death of Queen Elizabeth II out of respect for the late monarch. After 70 years on the British throne, the Queen died on Thursday September 8 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland at the age of 96.
“As a mark of respect, filming on The Crown was suspended today,” Netflix said in a statement acquired by the Hollywood Reporter on Friday. “Filming will also be suspended on the day of Her Majesty The Queen’s funeral.”
Writer of the royal drama Pete Morgan told Deadline, “The Crown is a love letter to her and I’ve nothing to add for now, just silence and respect. I expect we will stop filming out of respect too.”
After being previously portrayed by Claire Foy in the first two seasons, and Olivia Colman in seasons three and four, Harry Potter actress Imelda Staunton will play Queen Elizabeth in the series’ fifth and final season.
“I have loved watching The Crown from the very start,” said Staunton in a statement. “As an actor it was a joy to see how both Claire Foy and Olivia Colman brought something special and unique to Peter Morgan’s scripts. I am genuinely honored to be joining such an exceptional creative team and to be taking The Crown to its conclusion.”
The series introduced a young Lady Diana in season 4, with Emma Corrin starring as the ‘People’s Princess’ opposite Josh O’ Connor’s Prince Charles. Elizabeth Debicki will take the reins as Princess Diana for seasons 5 and 6, with Dominic West as Prince Charles.
Jonathan Pryce will follow Tobias Menzies as Prince Philip, while Lesley Manville will replace Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret.
We left off in season four in the 1980s, seeing Princess Diana marry Charles and have their children, William and Harry. Season five will highlight the Royal family in the early-to-mid 1990s, likely focusing on the Prince and Princess of Wales’s failing marriage, separation in 1992, and subsequent divorce in 1996.
According to Variety, season 5 will depict the circumstances surrounding Diana’s bombshell TV interview with Martin Bashir, which we now know was secured through less than scrupulous means.
Debicki was also spotted on set wearing the legendary Christina Stambolian “revenge dress” she wore to an event at the Serpentine Gallery the very same night that a documentary on Prince Charles aired in which he admitted to his relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles.
Earlier this month, The Crown found their Prince William and Kate Middleton for the series’ sixth season. According to Deadline, producers have casted two actors to play William throughout time periods. Rufus Kampa will assume the role of Prince William at age 15 — the age of the Royal when his mother, Princess Diana unexpectedly passed away in a tragic car accident.
Actor Khalid Abdalla has been confirmed to play Diana’s boyfriend Dodi Fayed who died alongside her in the 1997 crash.
Kampa will be replaced later in the season by Ed McVey, who will portray the Duke of Cambridge in his late teen and early adult years, during his courtship of a young Kate Middleton, set to be played by actress Meg Bellamy.
Watch this space for further updates on The Crown.
