Netflix has announced a sixth season for the popular royal drama “The Crown.” It will also be the last season of the Emmy-winning series.
Elizabeth II, as played by Oscar winner Olivia Colman, will end her TV reign after this coming season. She will be replaced in season five by Imelda Staunton (“Vera Drake,” “Harry Potter and the Order of the “Phoenix”), who will finish out the royal run.
Lesley Manville (“Phantom Thread,” “Another Year”) has also been tapped to play an older Princess Margaret.
“As we started to discuss the story lines for Series 5, it soon became clear that in order to do justice to the richness and complexity of the story, we should go back to the original plan and do six seasons,” creator Peter Morgan stated.
Season four will launch later this year and include Margaret Thatcher’s tenure as Prime Minister and the introduction of Lady Diana Spencer.
The cast includes Josh O’Connor as Prince Charles, Tobias Menzies as Prince Philip, Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret and Emma Corrin as Diana Spencer.
The TV series is inspired by Morgan’s film “The Queen” and his stage play “The Audience,” which ran on Broadway. Both starred Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth.