On August 17, it was announced that Australian actor Elizabeth Debicki had been cast to play the late Princess Diana in the final two seasons of The Crown.
The Netflix series, which has gained popularity for its accurate portrayal of the British royal family, is set to release season four sometime in 2020, which means Debicki will play the role in seasons five and six.
But before we get to the highly-anticipated conclusion of the show about the British royal family, we must first watch the next instalment from Netflix.
The fourth season of The Crown is arriving on Netflix worldwide on Sunday, November 15 and here’s everything we know.
What will season 4 be about?
“Something as important as the monarchy simply cannot be allowed to fail,” Olivia Coleman’s Queen Elizabeth II says in the trailer.
The story will pick up as the 1970s draw to a close. Margaret Thatcher is prime minister — and her divisive policies ruffle more than a few feathers in Britain.
We will also see the turbulent early years of Prince Charles and Diana’s relationship and the births of Princes William and Harry.
Other events likely to appear are the assassination of Louis Mountbatten, shots fired at Queen Elizabeth II at 1981 Trooping the Colour ceremony, further attempts on the Queen’s life, and the security breach of Buckingham Palace.
At the time, there was also the Falklands War, President Ronald Reagan’s administration and the beginning of the media’s obsession and sensationalist reporting.
It has already been confirmed that fourth season will air a further ten episodes.
On October 14, Netflix released another teaser for season 4 of The Crown, this time highlighting Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s tumultuous beginnings.
“Here is the stuff of which fairy tales are made — a prince and princess on their wedding day. But fairy tales usually end at this point, with the simple phrase, ‘They lived happily ever after,’” a narrator says — presumably the priest at their wedding.
“As husband and wife live out their vows, loving and cherishing one another — sharing life’s splendours and miseries, achievements and setbacks — they will be transformed in the process. Our faith sees the wedding day not as the place of arrival, but the place where the adventure really begins.”
It’s a haunting look at a real-life “fairytale” which ended in tragedy and one which was meant to unite the people of Britain.
This season, we will also see a toddler version of Prince William and Diana pregnant with Harry.
The official trailer
On October 30, 2020, and after numerous teasers, Netflix released the official trailer for season 4 of The Crown.
In it, we see more of Anderson’s portrayal of Margaret Thatcher, as she battles to run the United Kingdom alongside the Queen.
“My goal is to change this country from being dependent to self-reliant, and I think in that I am succeeding,” Thatcher says in the trailer.
Who is in the cast?
The Queen will be played by the incomparable Olivia Coleman (who played the part in season 3), Tobias Menzies will reprise his role as Prince Philip, Princess Margaret will once again be played by Helena Bonham Carter and Marion Bailey will play Queen Mother.
Alongside them will be Ben Daniels as Earl of Snowdon, Erin Doherty as Princess Ann, Josh O’Connor as Prince Charles, Emerald Fennell as Camilla Shand and Andrew Buchan as Andrew Parker Bowles.
Gillian Anderson will make her first appearance as the Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher, Emma Corrin will play a young Princess Diana and Geoffrey Breton as Mark Phillips.
First Look Images of Season 4
On September 30, Netflix released some stunning new photographs from season 4 of The Crown alongside the caption, “Change is coming.”
In four stills from the season, we get a first proper look at Anderson as Margaret Thatcher, Corrin as Princess Diana (in a stunning purple gown) and some new images of Coleman, Menzies and Bonham-Carter.
Change is coming. 15th November. pic.twitter.com/MdRUGWxj6h
— The Crown (@TheCrownNetflix) September 29, 2020
Production of The Crown during the global coronavirus pandemic
Back in February 2019, Coleman told ABC that the fourth season of the series would begin filming in August 2019.
Given that the show takes 22 days per episode, filming went into February 2020 — and barely managed to finish filming before the pandemic hit Europe.
“I had just finished [filming] and the show was about two or three weeks shy of finishing, though I have a feeling that the vast majority had been shot,” Menzies told Town and Country Magazine.
“It’s quite possible that they will manage with what they have got and not have to go back into the shoot.”
The cast and crew were unable to have a wrap party or celebration of the current cast — which would have been disappointing, since many will not return for the final seasons.
“We never had a big send-off and I don’t think we will now,” he said in another interview with Deadline. “This whole cast—me, Olivia [Colman] and Helena [Bonham Carter]—this is us finishing. We were planning a fairly drunken farewell.”
When will the fifth season go into production and what do we already know?
There will be a year-long hiatus before The Crown resumes filming, so it is unlikely we will see the fifth instalment until 2022.
Imelda Staunton has been cast to take on the role of Queen Elizabeth II, Lesley Manville will join as Princess Margaret, as previously mentioned, Debicki as Princess Diana (O’Connor will reprise his role as Prince Charles) and Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip.