Netflix's hit series The Crown sees a major spike in viewership following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. Created by Peter Morgan, The Crown chronicles the life of Queen Elizabeth II, tracking her decades as the ruling monarch of England with a rotating cast to portray the various historical figures at different points in time. Claire Foy and Olivia Colman have both played the Queen, and Imelda Staunton will take over in The Crown's final two seasons. Since the series premiered in 2016, it has been a huge hit for Netflix in both viewership and critical accolades.
Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne in 1952 and ruled for 70 years, making her the longest ruling British monarch in history. Queen Elizabeth passed away on September 8. As a major head of state and public figure, her passing has been a historical event and elicited intense reactions across the globe. As the world mourns and faces a major change of power in England, it seems real-life interest in the monarchy and Queen Elizabeth's reign has translated to an uptick in viewers for The Crown.
According to Variety, since the passing of Queen Elizabeth, The Crown has seen a major boost in viewership. A report from data analytics firm Whip Media shows that between Friday, September 9 and Sunday, September 11, The Crown's viewership in the U.K. increased more than 800%. In the U.S., viewership of The Crown more than quadrupled compared with the previous week, and in France, viewing jumped by three times its previous numbers. As of the time of this writing, The Crown is at #4 on Netflix's daily Top 10 list in the U.S.
The Crown is currently in production on season 6; season 5 is expected to debut in November. Following the announcement of Queen Elizabeth's death, it was confirmed that production on the latest season of The Crown would be put on hiatus for the time being, and it is unclear if it will impact its eventual release. As one of pop culture's most prominent depictions of Queen Elizabeth, it is understandable that The Crown would now capture the attention of viewers all over the world. Though the series has its fictional touches, it presents itself as a fairly straightforward recreation of the Queen's reign, and those who now wish to be closer to the late monarch are likely turning to the series as a way of paying their respects.
While The Crown is ending, Netflix is planning to continue the series with a prequel, allowing audiences to dive into more of the royal family's history. It is unclear how Queen Elizabeth II's death will impact the planned final season of The Crown. Morgan has indicated he'll stop short of reaching the present day, so it seems unlikely that the series will actually cover her passing. However, as the increased viewership shows, audiences view The Crown as a must-see representation of her reign. Perhaps the series will use its final two seasons to serve as the ultimate tribute to the Queen.
Source: Variety