Netflix Announces ‘The Crown’ Will Be Extended to Include a Sixth Season

Mike Crisolago | July 10th, 2020

Olivia Colman poses as Queen Elizabeth II, with her beloved corgis, in a publicity still from 'The Crown.' On Thursday, Netflix announced that 'The Crown' would be extended to a sixth and final season, after previously announcing it would end after five seasons. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix

Long live the Queen! Netflix confirmed Thursday that the hit series The Crown will return for a six and final season, after previously stating that it would wrap after five seasons.

The streaming service announced the news via Twitter, adding a quote from series creator and writer Peter Morgan saying, “As we started to discuss the storylines 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.”

In his statement, Morgan also clarified that, “To be clear, Series 6 will not bring us any closer to present-day — it will simply enable us to cover the same period in greater detail.”

The Netflix account added, “So to summarise — we’ll have one more season with Queen Olivia Colman, before she passes the crown to Imelda Staunton. We’re just half way through! Lovely.”

Deadline reports that the sixth season, “will take the story up to the early 2000s, meaning we won’t see the likes of Meghan Markle become part of future storylines after she married Prince Harry in 2018.”

The most recent season — season three — however, did introduce us to a young Prince Charles (Josh O’Connor) and Camilla Shand (Emerald Fennell), the current Duchess of Cornwall. Oscar-winner Olivia Colman played Queen Elizabeth in that season, taking over from Claire Foy, who played the monarch in seasons one and two. Colman will return as the Queen for season four, which is expected to air later this year and introduces both Princess Diana (Emma Corrin) and Margaret Thatcher (Gillian Anderson). Reports suggest that the fourth season will cover from the late 1970s through to 1990.

Award-winning British actress Imelda Staunton, 64, was previously announced as taking over the role of Queen Elizabeth II for season five, and is confirmed as retaining it for the just announced sixth season.

And just days ago, 64-year-old English actress Lesley Manville was announced as taking over the role of Princess Margaret for the fifth season.

“I could not be happier to be playing Princess Margaret,” Manville said in a statement accompanying the casting announcement. “The baton is being passed on from two formidable actresses and I really don’t want to let the side down. Furthermore, to play siblings with my dear friend Imelda Staunton will be nothing short of a complete joy.”

Actress Vanessa Kirby played the Queen’s rebellious sister in the first two seasons, while Helena Bonham Carter took over the role for seasons three and four.

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