
Minor spoilers below for seasons 4 and 5 of The Crown.
Royal enthusiasts devoured season 4 of The Crown, which featured Emma Corrin’s long-awaited turn as a young Diana Spencer, the soon-to-be princess in love. However the season cut off just as her once-dreamlike marriage to Prince Charles had hit the rocks, leaving fans eager to witness what they know happens next: Prince and Princess end their marriage, and Diana embarks on a lifetime of independent celebrity and humanitarianism, only to satisfy her tragic end in a automobile accident in Paris. But seeing the inner workings of The Firmâand the inner dramas of Diana’s vibrant lifeâthrough The Crown’s Emmy-winning performances is, regardless, irresistible. And the showâs final two seasons are shaping as much as be a fitting send-off for the groundbreaking drama.
Below, the whole lot we learn about season 5 of The Crown, including how Imelda Staunton is preparing to play the Queen, and why it wonât premiere until 2022.
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When will production begin?
Variety reported on April 7 that season 5 of The Crown would begin filming in London in July 2021, and sure enough, production is currently underway. Showrunner Peter Morgan revealed on the Emmy Awards in September 2021 that they’d be shooting season 5 again âin a pair hoursâ after the ceremony.
Production then took a pause in early September after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Morgan revealed to Deadline that âThe Crown is a love letter to her and Iâve nothing so as to add for now, just silence and respect. I expect we’ll stop filming out of respect, too.â
Do now we have any production pics yet?
On July 30, The Crown revealed the primary look of Staunton as Queen Elizabeth.
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And in late August, Netflix unveiled its first images of the brand new Prince Charles and Princess Diana. They give the impression of being pretty unhappy, which seems appropriate.
Netflix
Netflix
In September, People released exclusive images of the TV parents on set in Surrey with the brand new Prince William and Prince Harry. Within the photos, taken at Dunsfold Aerodrome, Elizabeth Debicki’s Diana sports the late royal’s iconic coif, in addition to a floral midi dress.
And more images proceed to leak from the set. On October 13, images surfaced of Debicki and Dominic West recreating Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ trip to Italy within the ’90s. The actress totally nailed Lady Di’s look.
Splash/Backgrid
On November 5, Debicki was photographed wearing a recreation of Princess Diana’s famous ârevenge dress,â which she wore to the 1994 Vanity Fair dinner on the Serpentine Gallery in London. That evening coincided with the airing of a documentary featuring an interview that Prince Charles had with Jonathan Dimbleby, through which he admitted to being unfaithful to Diana with Camilla Parker.
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Diana had bought the dress in 1991, but didn’t dare to wear it on the timeâan off-the-shoulder dress is against Royal protocol. The dress was perceived by some as a type of vengeance against Prince Charles and the Royal family.
What number of seasons will there be in total?
Back in November 2016, Netflix content chief Ted Sarandos confirmed that Morganâs initial pitch for the show outlined six seasons. âThe concept is to do that over six many years, in six seasons presumably, and make the entire show over eight to 10 years,â Sarandos said, per The Hollywood Reporter.
But in late January 2020, Deadline reported that the showâs fifth season could be its last. âOn the outset I had imagined The Crown running for six seasons, but now that now we have begun work on the stories for season 5 it has change into clear to me that that is the right time and place to stop,â Morgan said in a press release. âIâm grateful to Netflix and Sony for supporting me on this decision.â
This decision was again reversed in July. Morgan confirmed, via Deadline, that the show would return for a sixth season. âAs we began to debate the storylines for Series 5, it soon became clear that with a purpose to do justice to the richness and complexity of the story we must always return to the unique plan and do six seasons,â Morgan stated. âTo be clear, Series 6 won’t bring us any closer to present-dayâit can simply enable us to cover the identical period in greater detail.â
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News from the palace: we are able to confirm there will likely be a sixth (and final) season of @TheCrownNetflix, along with the previously announced five!
â Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) July 9, 2020
This implies The Crown will skip over some major content opportunities for the show. In early 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sent ripples through the monarchy once they announced they might step down from their senior royal roles. In November 2019, Prince Andrew was forced to walk away from his own royal duties after questions on his ties to Jeffrey Epstein arose. It seems unlikely either scandal will likely be covered in depth on The Crown.
Who will take over the role of Queen Elizabeth II?
Harry Potter alumna Imelda Staunton will play Queen Elizabeth II. A scrapped sixth season originally meant Oscar nominee Staunton would have just one installment to make an impact, but now sheâll get two, as was the case with the queens before her. Rumors of Staunton’s casting made waves in November 2019, shortly after the third season premiered. Deadline confirmed the news in late January 2020.
âIâm absolutely thrilled to substantiate Imelda Staunton as Her Majesty the Queen for the fifth and final season, taking The Crown into the twenty first century,â creator and showrunner Peter Morgan said in a press release. âImelda is an astonishing talent and will likely be a unbelievable successor to Claire Foy and Olivia Colman.â
Netflix also tweeted a press release from Staunton about her casting: âI even have loved watching The Crown from the very start. As an actor it was a joy to see how each Claire Foy and Olivia Colman brought something special and unique to Peter Morganâs scripts. I’m genuinely honored to be joining such an exceptional creative team and to be taking The Crown to its conclusion.â
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In a recent interview on the BBC radio show Womanâs Hour, Staunton spoke in regards to the hurdles of playing Queen Elizabeth. âI feel my form of extra challenge, as if I needed it, is that Iâm now doing the queen that weâre a bit more acquainted with,â she told host Emma Barnett, via Variety. âWith Claire Foy, it was almost history, and now Iâm playing one that individuals could say âshe doesnât do this,â âsheâs not like that,â and thatâs my personal bĂȘte noire.â
What about Princess Margaret?
Netflix announced in July 2020 that Oscar-nominated Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread, Maleficent) will tackle the role previously played by Helena Bonham Carter and Vanessa Kirby. âI couldn’t be happier to be playing Princess Margaret,â the actress said in a press release, shared to the showâs official Twitter. âThe baton is being passed on from two formidable actresses, and I actually don’t desire to let the side down. Moreover, to play siblings with my dear friend Imelda Staunton will likely be nothing wanting an entire joy.â
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In her first interview since nabbing the role of Princess Margaret, Manville said she found it âthrillingâ to tackle a job previously played by two other actresses. âI feel, come on Manville, youâve got to take that baton, and never let those two actresses think, âOh we were great, shame about Manville.â Letâs hope it doesnât come to that,â she told Deadline in July 2020.
Asked whether she considered not accepting the high-stakes role, Manville said there was never an issue. âThere was never any doubt that I’d say yes,â she recalled. âAfter they said âMargaret,â I hadnât really thought of it. Then I assumed, âyes Margaret!â Thatâs fabulous because she was so avant-garde. So naughty, delightful and funny. What a beautiful woman to play.â When pressed about other performers joining the project, Manville kept tight-lipped. âNot a single name has been dangled like a carrot to make me much more excited,â she told the outlet.
Who else is recent to the forged?
Variety reports that Dominic Wests’s son, 13-year-old Senan West, will play Prince William in the brand new season, marking his onscreen debut. The heir to the throne will likely be portrayed âas he begins to mature right into a young manâ and can make his entrance in the ultimate episodes of season 5, per the outlet. Senan’s audition tape, sent in by his agents, apparently impressed the producers.
Deadline reported on August 12 that Jonathan Pryce, the Oscar-nominated actor behind The Two Popes and The Wife, will play Prince Philip for seasons 5 and 6. He takes over the role from Tobias Menzies (seasons 3 and 4) and Matt Smith (seasons 1 and a couple of).
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Jonathan Pryce will play Prince Philip in the ultimate two seasons of The Crown (Seasons 5 and 6), alongside Imelda Staunton and Lesley Manville. pic.twitter.com/zI7NotOfc4
â The Crown (@TheCrownNetflix) August 13, 2020
“I’m delighted to be working with Netflix again,â Pryce said in a press release. âThe positive experience I had making The Two Popes has given me the boldness to tackle the daunting prospect of portraying Prince Philip. To be doing so with Peter Morgan in the corporate of Imelda and Lesley will likely be a joy.â
As well as, the official Crown Twitter account announced in June 2021 that Elementary actor Jonny Lee Miller will join the forged as Prime Minister John Major.
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A season 5 forged may also presumably include recent actors for Camilla Parker Bowles and Prime Minister Tony Blair. While the casting confirmations roll in, be mindful that cameos from former forged members could occur; besides Foy in season 4, John Lithgowâs Winston Churchill and Pip Torrensâ Tommy Lascelles appeared briefly in season 3.
In March, it was announced that Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, known for her role as marketing boss Sylvie Grateau within the Netflix hit Emily In Paris, has been forged as Monique Ritz. Ritz is the widow of Charles Ritz who sold his hotel in Paris to Mohamed Al Fayed. Diana and Dodi Fayed spent their last evening together on the Ritz hotel.
Of her role, Leroy-Beaulieu said, âIt was a really small thing however it was a variety of fun and I used to be so, so pleased to be in it. Every episode is like a bit film by itself. Itâs crazily well written.â
Will there be recent actors for Princess Diana and Prince Charles?
Season 5 of The Crown may also welcome a recent Princess Diana to the fold, following Corrinâs one-season portrayal of the headline-making royal. Actress Elizabeth Debicki (The Night Manager, The Great Gatsby) will tackle the role in seasons 5 and 6, as confirmed on Twitter. âPrincess Dianaâs spirit, her words and her actions live within the hearts of so many,â Debicki said in a press release, shared to The Crownâs Twitter. âIt’s my true privilege and honor to be joining this masterful series, which has had me absolutely hooked from Episode One.â
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As for where Dianaâs storyline will go in season 5, costume designer Amy Roberts told ELLE.com thereâs information to be gleaned from the characterâs season 4 costumes. As an illustration, when Diana joins the family Christmas photo at Balmoral wearing a âkiller dressâ in the ultimate episode, itâs âa moment when she starts putting on armor. Thatâs what she does in the subsequent series. That is the primary real moment where she thinks, âWell, Iâm going to fight you lot. I will survive.ââ
Meanwhile, The Wire and The Affair actor Dominic West is about to star as Prince Charles in season 5 of The Crown, The Hollywood Reporter revealed in October 2020. Variety confirmed the news in April 2021. The Brit would take over from Josh OâConnor, who played Prince Charles in seasons 3 and 4 of the series.
Will Emma Corrin return as Diana?
Itâs customary for a recent actor to take over a personality on The Crown every two seasons, but in keeping with The Sun, the showâs creators will attempt to feature Corrin in the subsequent season, partly because of her popularity within the part. âUnder normal circumstances, The Crownâs rule is that the complete forged changes after every two series, but Emma has been exceptional as Di,â a source told the outlet. âSo although Elizabeth will take over the role, theyâre taking a look at ways in which her predecessor can appear, albeit in flashbacks to her younger years.â
The insider notes that flashbacks on the show have been utilized to point out the childhood of Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. Claire Foy even appeared for a scene in season 4. âNow theyâre taking a look at similar ways they’ll feature Emma more extensively, similar to in repeated trips through time to Dianaâs childhood and teenage years,â The Sunâs source said. Netflix has yet to handle this report.
Will the brand new season depict the famous Martin Bashir/Diana interview?
Per The Independent, the show will recreate the famous 1995 Panorama interview between Princess Diana (Debicki) and Martin Bashir. That is the interview through which Diana referred to Prince Charlesâs affair with Camilla Parker Bowles and said âthere have been three of us on this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.â
The interview has created recent controversy recently: Prince William said at the top of 2020 that an investigation into the methods utilized by Bashir and the BBC was a âstep in the suitable direction,â and Bashir left the general public broadcaster in May 2021 because it investigated accusations that he used âdeceptive tacticsâ to get the interview.
What in regards to the infamous relationship between Diana and Dodi Fayed?
After her marriage with Prince Charles had crumbled, a divorced Diana eventually met the Harrods heir Dodi Fayed, with whom she shared a temporary love affair before the tragic automobile accident that took her (and his) life. Variety has confirmed that Fayed will indeed appear in season 5, played by The Kite Runner’s Khalid Abdalla. It just isn’t yet clear whether this season will cover the crash or will merely introduce Fayed as Diana’s recent partner.
Will it portray other romantic relationships Diana had?
Pakistani star Humayun Saeed was announced by Variety because the actor to portray Dr. Hasnat Khan in Season 5. Saeed is well-know for his action-comedy movies Jawani Phir Nahi Ani and its sequel Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2. He also starred in romantic-comedy Punjab Nahi Jaungi.
Diana and Dr. Khan dated for 2 years, from 1995 to 1997. The guts surgeon gave a press release to the Metropolitan Police n 2004 that was revealed within the inquest into her death in 2008. He claimed she broke up with him after meeting Dodi Fayed while on a visit with Mohammed Al Fayed and his family.
Khan eventually returned to Pakistan and said in his statement that prior to their break up, that he had considered being along with her long run, however the press continuously following the Princess and himself was too difficult. He had invited her to maneuver to Pakistan, and he or she discussed it with a friend Jemima Goldsmith who was married to Pakistani cricketer Imran Khan and lived within the country with him. Imran Khan is now Prime Minister of the country.
Will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle make an appearance?
Prince Harry apparently wants Billions actor Damian Lewis to play him in a future season, and talk show host James Corden is on board with thatâand needs to play Prince William.
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An Afternoon with Prince Harry & James Corden
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Nevertheless, Meghan Markle and Harry arenât prone to be covered on The Crown.
In January, The Crown executive producer Suzanne Mackie told the BBC, âTo be honest, regardless of the lifetime of The Crown is after where we at the moment are, I doubt we’ll ever go as far into the current day. I feel weâll probablyâŠwe donât travel into the current day.â
Chris Jackson//Getty Images
Morgan originally held this stance back in 2018. âI feel uncomfortable writing about events inside a certain time period,â he told Entertainment Weekly. âI feel thereâs a certain quantity of time inside which, in case you write about it, what you do immediately becomes journalistic. Since itâs too near the moment.â
He continued, âLetâs wait 20 years and see what there’s to say about Meghan Markle. I donât know what there’s to say about Meghan Markle in the mean time. I wouldnât know and I wouldnât presume. Sheâll only change into interesting once weâve had 20 years to digest who she is and what her impact has been. If I were to jot down about Meghan Markle I’d robotically be writing journalistically.â
What is going to season 5 be about?
No word yet on what, precisely, the fifth season of The Crown will cover. Season 4 resulted in 1990, the yr Thatcher was âoustedâ from her Prime Minister position. Season 5, subsequently, will almost definitely cover the early 90s.
Itâs unknown just how modern the monarchy will get, though Deadline reports season 6 will end within the âearly 2000s.â The series will likely avoid depicting, say, the school courtship between Prince William and Kate Middleton, or Prince Harry and Meghan Markleâs wedding.
While weâre speculating about what The Crown could cover, be mindful that many major events occurred inside (and outdoors) palace partitions within the thirty-year timespan between 1990 and 2020. There have been six prime ministers: Major, Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May, and Boris Johnson. Three major divorces rocked the â90s, including Princess Anne and Mark Phillipsâ 1992 split and the 1996 breakups between Prince Charles and Princess Diana and Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. In 1997, Princess Diana died. In 2002, each Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother died lower than two months apart. Later that yr, Queen Elizabeth celebrated her Golden Jubilee after 50 years of ruling.
A few of these events were depicted within the 2006 film The Queen, which was written by Morgan.
When will season 5 premiere?
During Netflix’s global fan event, TUDUM, in September 2021, Staunton revealed that, sadly, the subsequent chapter of The Crown won’t debut until November 2022.
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The Crown | Season 5 | A Message From Imelda Staunton | Netflix
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Within the meantime, there’s loads of other Princess Diana content to maintain us busy.
This post will likely be updated.
Savannah Walsh is an Editorial Fellow at ELLE.com.
Hilary Weaver is a contract author based in Latest York who writes about politics, queer issues, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, and each woman the Queen has ever made a dame. I saw Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again thrice in theaters, and that is just about all it is advisable know.Â
Lauren Puckett-Pope is an associate editor at ELLE, where she covers news and culture.