In its final season, Netflix’s The Crown will apparently give the “ultimate homage” to Queen Elizabeth II.
The drama is reported to bring back past actors who played the monarch, Claire Foy and Olivia Colman, as well as introduce a younger ‘wartime’ Queen, Viola Prettejohn.
They will be joined by Imelda Staunton, 67, the most recent addition to the cast.
The proposal was hatched around the time of Queen Elizabeth’s death in September, and the move is intended as a show of’respect and regard.’
‘Even if they don’t feel the same way about the royals as an institution,’ the person continued.
‘Netflix are playing a clever hand with these four queens, bringing the story of Her Majesty to a sensational end after telling virtually all of her life story over 60 episodes,’ the TV insider shared with The Sun.
It was supposedly problematic logistically since Claire, 39, who portrayed the late Queen Elizabeth for the first two seasons, and Olivia, 49, who took over for the next two, both had demanding schedules.
This dramatic ending may mark the end of the TV series, which premiered in 2016, although there may be some films in the works.
‘Although this seems like a major move, it’s one that proved a big success for Downton Abbey, which lasted for 52 episodes before continuing as two smash features,’ a source told the newspaper.
‘Down the line, there’s the option to revisit the 21st-century royals, perhaps focusing on Harry meeting Meghan [Markle] and his fallout with William.’
The last series’ launch date has been kept secret.
The episodes will represent Princess Diana’s death in August 1997, when she was injured in a catastrophic accident in Paris’s Pont de l’Alma tunnel.
Netflix personnel were spotted recording the events leading up to Princess Diana’s murder in Paris in October 2022.
It is supposed to finish with a joyful event – the wedding of now-King Charles and Queen Camilla.
The Crown is available to stream on Netflix.
