Those anticipating the next season of Netflix’s The Crown will have to wait a bit longer. Production on the sixth season has been delayed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 96.
The Crown creator Peter Morgan saw the halt in production coming, writing in an email to Deadline, “I expect we will stop filming out of respect.”
An official statement from Netflix reads: “As a mark of respect, filming on The Crown was suspended today…Filming will also be suspended on the day of Her Majesty The Queen’s funeral.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, an inside source has said the “pause in filming” of The Crown season six was implemented soon after the announcement of Queen Elizabeth II’s death. No decision will be reached as to when production will resume until the funeral has taken place. The funeral has numerous events preceding it, including a procession and a lying in state for four days at Westminster Hall.
Season five of The Crown is said to be taking place in the 1990s, starting about where season four left off. It would conclude somewhere in the middle of the decade and likely include the death of Princess Diana. This event would put Queen Elizabeth II in her early 70s. As reported widely at the time, Queen Elizabeth appeared noticeably distant following Prince Di’s 1997 death, for which she faced much criticism.
Imelda Staunton, who portrays Queen Elizabeth II in the upcoming season five, will reprise the role when season six of The Crown resumes. Queen Elizabeth II was previously portrayed by both Claire Foy and Olivia Colman at various points in The Crown’s run.
The Crown had just cast its Prince William and Kate Middleton with Rufus Kampa and Ed McVey playing the former and Meg Bellamy playing the duchess.
Season five of The Crown will come to Netflix in November.
What are your thoughts on the decision to delay production on The Crown?