If, like us, you’ve binge-watched the first and second season of Netflix’s hit series The Crown then you’re most likely also wondering what the royal drama will depict next. As timelines move forward, characters we’ve come to love grow older and in this new season both Claire Foy and Matt Smith will not reprise their roles as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
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So when will the enchanting new season be revealed? According to Deadline, Netflix issued a letter to investors stating that The Crown’s third season will only debut after 1 July 2019 given the show’s introduction of a brand new cast. Claire Foy’s Golden Globe and Emmy win for her role as Queen Elizabeth undeniably leaves big shoes to fill, and stepping into those shoes is none other than Oscar-award-winning actress Olivia Colman. And, just recently, Netflix released a first look of Coleman as the monarch donning the Queen’s signature hairstyle as well as a cup of tea in hand.
After signing onto the project last year, Coleman told the BBC “I’m so thrilled to be part of The Crown. I was utterly gripped watching it. I think Claire Foy is an absolute genius – she’s an incredibly hard act to follow. I’m basically going to re-watch every episode and copy her.” Writer and creator Peter Morgan also shared his thoughts on casting Coleman, stating “The casting director came up with her as an idea and I thought, ‘I don’t want to look any further’.”
It’s also been confirmed that Tobias Menzies (pictured below with Coleman) will replace Matt Smith as Prince Philip. Menzies’ body of work most notably includes roles in Game Of Thrones, Outlander, and the classic Bond flick Casino Royale.
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Succeeding Vanessa Kirby’s role of Princess Magaret is legendary actress Helena Bonham Carter. Kirby rather surprisingly confirmed the news before any official announcements were made through an Instagram snap with Carter that she captioned “Honoured”.
The royal family’s vast history offers The Crown a plethora of smaller stories to pick apart on screen. One story the new season will re-enact is young Prince Charles meeting Camilla Parker Bowles (then called Camilla Shand) at a polo match in 1971. The two were a couple until Prince Charles left for the Royal Navy in 1973.
Season three will also cover the marriage between Princess Margaret and photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones (Earl of Snowdon). Historian of the show, Robert Lacey, told Town and Country Magazine “In season three, without giving anything away – it’s on the record, it’s history – we’ll see the breakup of this extraordinary marriage between Margaret and Snowdon.”
Emerald Fennell, from Call the Midwife, will be joining the cast in the role of young Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. Of the announcement, Fennel shared “I absolutely love Camilla, and am very grateful that my teenage years have well prepared me for playing a chain-smoking serial [kisser] with a pudding bowl hair cut.”
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Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher will be introduced in season four, with Gillian Anderson (of X-Files fame) pegged for the role. Although Anderson is Peter Morgan’s (writer and creator of The Crown) partner, this isn’t the first time the couple will be working together professionally. Their history includes working together on the film The Last King of Scotland, released in 2006. And at the age of 50, Gillian couldn’t be a better match for the role – certain fans have even agreed that they share a slight resemblance! The fourth season will reportedly take place during Thatcher’s 11-year reign as Prime Minister, from 1979-1990. Season four is also set to be released some time in 2020.
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By Features Writer Marike Watson
