Netflix has recently announced the critically acclaimed period drama, The Crown, will officially return on Sunday November 17th— a two year hiatus separating the series’ Season 2 finale and Season 3 premiere. Created and written by Peter Morgan, the series is produced by Left Bank Pictures and Sony Pictures Television in partnership with Netflix.
Initially based on Morgan’s 2006 film, The Queen and 2013 stage play, The Audience, The Crown follows numerous events throughout Queen Elizabeth II’s life, starting on her wedding in 1947 up until present day events. The first season, which aired in 2016, saw a young queen played by Claire Foy in the early days of her reign. Events throughout 1955 were shown with a large focus on the resignation of Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Audiences also saw the Queen’s sister Princess Margaret deciding not to marry Peter Townsend, while the second season took place during the 1956 Suez Crisis, the retirement of the Queen’s third Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, the 1963 Profumo affair and subsequent political scandal, and Prince Edward’s respective birth in 1964.
At the start of season three, Olivia Colman will now portray the Queen and will show Harold Wilson’s time as Prime Minister, the Aberfan disaster, the Apollo 11 moon landing, the 1969 Investiture of Prince Charles, the decolonization of Africa and the Caribbean.
Princess Margaret’s eight-year long extra marital affair with Roddy Llewellyn and her subsequent divorce from Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1978, will also play a large role in the upcoming season’s story line, as well. Introductions of Camilla Shand and Lady Diana Spencer will be shown in supporting roles, ultimately leading to more prominent ones in the fourth season, which will also feature Margaret Thatcher.
Jumping forward in time significantly, from the years of 1964 up until 1977, the series will see Outlander‘s Tobias Menzies succeeded the role of Prince Philip from Doctor Who alum Matt Smith. The Exorcist‘s Ben Daniels and Helena Bonham Carter will also round out the series’ main cast as Lord Snowdon and Princess Margaret, respectively. Call the Midwife actress Emerald Fennell will play Camilla Parker Bowles.
The Crown‘s fourth season is currently salted by the streamer for production later this year. Rumors surrounding Season 4 involve the series possibly taking place in the 1980’s, with Emma Corrin supposedly being cast as Lady Diana Spencer— better known to the public as Princess Diana. The X-Files‘ Gillian Anderson has also reportedly been play the aforementioned Margaret Thatcher.
Below the announcement can be viewed: