Netflix Pushes 'The Crown' Season 3 Back to 2019

Filming still hasn't started on The Crown's third season, as the new cast scrambles to get ready.

It cannot be over-emphasized what a huge risk Netflix took when they decided to greenlight all six seasons of The Crown sight unseen. It wasn't just the scale of the project, telling the story of the current British monarch's first six decades of rule, reframing the narrative of the latter half of the 20th century, and creating a first draft of what will one day be referred to as the Second Elizabethan Age. But the idea to recast the show every two years was simply madness. No show, other than Doctor Who, regularly replaces their leading characters, and Doctor Who never meant to do that so much as they accidentally stumbled into it. Moreover, Doctor Who's main characters, as much as we love them, don't regularly win Golden Globes or BAFTAs either.

Perhaps that's why Matt Smith, who starred as the titular Doctor prior to his stint as Prince Philip, is the only one taking the turn over in stride. For him, this is simply how things work. For everyone else, this is something they're all having to adjust to. Not only outgoing actresses Claire Foy (QEII) and Vanessa Kirby (Princess Margaret), but incoming cast members including Olivia Colman (QEII), Helena Bonham Carter (Princess Margaret) and Tobias Menzies (Prince Philip). There's still no confirmation on who will play the now-adult Prince Charles but rumors point to BAFTA-nominated Josh O'Connor of The Durrells and God's Own Country. Casting for Camilla Shand and Princess Anne have also not been announced. The show already confirmed Diana Spencer will not be part of the coming season.