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Netflix is reportedly moving forward with a prequel to The Crown. The new series would cover the period from Queen Victoria’s death in 1901 through the wedding of the future Queen Elizabeth to Prince Philip in 1947, according to the Daily Mail.
The deal between Netflix and production company Left Bank Pictures is said to be worth up to £500 million (approximately $676 million) following the wild success of the original series. The historical drama’s creator and show runner Peter Morgan is also expected to return to helm the new project, with casting expected to begin next year. “Netflix has been locked in negotiations with the company for quite a long time about this spin-off series, but they've recently finally managed to seal the deal and come to an agreement,” a source told the Daily Mail.
The prequel would span nearly half a century of British royal history, covering four royal ascensions—Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII, and George VI—which took place between the two longest reigns in British history: Queen Victoria’s 63-year reign from 1837 to 1901, and Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign from 1952 to 2022. The prequel would also cover the abdication crisis of 1936, in which Edward VIII gave up the throne for American divorcée Wallis Simpson, the royal family’s experiences through both World Wars, and the sweeping social changes of early 20th-century Britain.
The original series, which ran from November 2016 to December 2023 across six seasons and 60 episodes, chronicled the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth from her 1947 wedding through the early 2000s. To reflect the passage of time, the principal cast was replaced every two seasons. Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Imelda Staunton each portrayed Queen Elizabeth across the series, while Matt Smith, Tobias Menzies, and Jonathan Pryce played Prince Philip at different stages. Vanessa Kirby, Helena Bonham Carter, and Lesley Manville took turns as Princess Margaret.
The Crown won 24 Primetime Emmy Awards across its run, including a sweep of 11 in 2021 that included Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actress for Colman, and Outstanding Lead Actor for Josh O’Connor, who played Prince Charles in his younger years during seasons three and four. It also won seven Golden Globes and multiple BAFTA awards.