Netflix to end ‘The Crown’ with sixth season

Netflix is to end The Crown, its hit drama about the British monarchy, after a sixth and final season.

Despite creator Peter Morgan’s statement earlier this year that the fifth season would be its last, Netflix has now confirmed that a sixth run is planned.

The series, whose fourth season is due on the streamer later this year, portrays significant events in the lives of the British royal family over a period of decades. Produced by Left Bank Pictures, its leads are regularly recast as the show moves forward in time.

When season four launches, Olivia Colman will play Queen Elizabeth and Gillian Anderson will portray prime minister Margaret Thatcher. Imelda Staunton and Lesley Manville have already cast as Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, respectively, for the fifth season.

This sixth and final season will bring the action up until the early 2000s and cover events including the death of Princess Diana.

Morgan commented: “As we started to discuss the storylines for season five, it soon became clear that, in order to do justice to the richness and complexity of the story, we should go back to the original plan and do six seasons. To be clear, season six will not bring us any closer to the present day – it will simply enable us to cover the same period in greater detail.”

Cindy Holland, VP of original content at Netflix, added: “The Crown keeps raising the bar with each new season. We can’t wait for audiences to see the upcoming fourth season, and we’re proud to support Peter’s vision and the phenomenal cast and crew for a sixth and final season.”