The penultimate season of The Crown is just weeks away, as Netflix’s flagship royal drama nears its conclusion. Season five is arguably the most anticipated yet, as it is set to tackle dramatic divorces and tabloid scandals.
This will be the first season of the show following the deaths of Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The series has attracted controversy since the death of the late monarch in September, with some slamming the creators for airing the series so soon after her death.
On Friday, Lady Victoria Hervey voiced her concerns on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, saying the new series comes “too soon” after the Queen’s death and criticising it as “insensitive.” Regardless of its perceived insensitivity, the show is a big hit for Netflix, with the streaming giant eager to release the series on its platform next month.
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Here, we break down everything you need to know about season five of The Crown.
What is it about?
Season five of The Crown will tackle perhaps one of the most turbulent decades in the Queen’s reign, the 1990s. Royal separations and tabloid dramas are set to play out on-screen in what will no doubt be an extremely dramatic series of the hit drama.
The royal family was rocked with scandals througout the decade, and British actor Dominic West – set to appear as Prince Charles – told Deadline the series will be “as tumultuous as it gets.” Divorce looks likely to be a central theme of the show, as the family suffers from the breakdown of three royal marriages.
Season five is expected to be fraught with drama, as it deals with the Queen’s “annus horribilis,” 1992. The year saw Prince Andrew’s separation from Sarah ‘Fergie’ Ferguson, the Duchess of York and Princess Anne’s divorce from Captain Mark Philips, which both occurred in quick succession.
As well as royal splits, several media scandals shone an unwanted spotlight on the family, as the publication of Andrew Morton’s revealing book, Diana: Her True Story, detailed the dysfunction of Charles and Diana’s marriage. Just two months later, Fergie found herself splashed across the front pages of the tabloids, as images emerged of the topless royal being kissed on the feet by her friend and financial adviser Joyn Bryan.
To top it all off, the monarch’s Berkshire residence, Windsor Castle, suffered extensive damage when a fire broke out, destroying 115 rooms and injuring at least one person, so it is likely viewers will see a fictionalised retelling of this fiery spectacle. Most notably, however, The Crown will tackle the 1996 divorce of Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, and the colossal fallout that ensued.
One of the most anticipated and dramatic events of The Crown will no doubt be the death of the late princess, who was killed in a car crash in Paris in 1997 alongside her partner Dodi Al-Fayed. It has been reported, however, that the tragic event is being saved for season six, as a source on the production told Deadline on Wednesday (October 12) how the cast and crew are “dreading” the filming of the tragic event.
Who are the cast?
The Crown boasts an ensemble cast of renowned thespians and relative newcomers. For season five, the cast has once again undergone a complete overhaul, as the actors are replaced by a host of new faces to keep up with the ageing royals.
The Queen will be now played by Imelda Staunton (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix), who replaces Oscar winner Olivia Colman as the royal matriarch. Her husband, Prince Philip, will be played by veteran actor and Game of Thrones star Jonathan Pryce, who replaces Tobias Menzies.
Prince Charles will now be portrayed by Dominic West (The Wire, The Affair), while his then-wife Diana will be played with uncanny likeness by Elizabeth Debicki (Tenet). In his first on-screen role, Dominic’s son, Senan West, will take on the role of the couple’s eldest son, Prince William.
As the series is set to tackle the breakdown of Charles and Diana’s marriage, Diana’s partner Dodi Al-Fayed is also set to feature, with Egyptian-British actor Khalid Abdalla (Moon Knight, United 93) cast as the late Egyptian. Prince Andrew and Sarah Duchess of York will be played by Manchester’s James Murray and newcomer Emma Laird Craig respectively, with the latter landing her first major role.
Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread) will take over from Helena Bonham Carter as the Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, while a James Bond is also reported to appear in the series, as Margaret’s former lover Peter Townsend is played by 1980s 007 Timothy Dalton.
In an exciting addition to the cast, British actor Jonny Lee Miller – best known as Scottish junkie ‘Sick Boy’ in Trainspotting – will transform into Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader John Major. Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair – who moved into Number 10 in 1997 – is also set to appear, to be played by Olivier Award-winning actor Bertie Carvel (Doctor Foster).
When is The Crown released on Netflix?
As with many Netflix series, every episode of The Crown season five will be released on the same day. There is less than a month to wait, as all ten episodes are set to drop on Wednesday, November 9 at 8am, making it perfect for your next TV binge.
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