Netflix denies rumors that The Crown is having trouble casting Prince Andrew for season 5. Fans of the Netflix prestige drama know by now that the cast changes every two seasons to reflect the aging of the characters at its center. Claire Foy originated the role of Queen Elizabeth on the series' first two seasons, with Olivia Colman taking on the role for the third and fourth seasons. Matt Smith and Tobias Menzies have both played Prince Philip, but as the series has approached the modern era, the cast has expanded each season.
With The Crown season 4, Emma Corrin was brought onboard as Princess Diana, winning a Golden Globe for her performance. Gillian Anderson played Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the fourth season, the most acclaimed entry for the series yet. Ahead of the upcoming season, The Crown season 5 has casted several pivotal roles, including Harry Potter alum Imelda Staunton in the role of Queen Elizabeth. Lesley Manville will be taking over the role of Princess Margaret from Helena Bonham Carter, while Dominic West will be playing Prince Charles alongside Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip. Finally, Elizabeth Debicki will play the pivotal role of Princess Diana, but the series has yet to cast one important character.
The Crown has not yet found its Prince Andrew, the Queen's third child. Rumors swirled that Netflix was having difficulty finding someone to tackle the controversial role, but Deadline reports The Crown season 5 is not having issues with casting whatsoever. After advertisements appeared on a casting website, a British tabloid reported that not many actors were jumping at the chance to play Andrew. A spokesperson for The Crown denied this, though, saying, "There is absolutely no struggle to cast any role for season 5 of The Crown and it is normal practice for productions to advertise in Spotlight."
With production beginning on The Crown season 5 this summer, the Netflix series should begin filling out its supporting cast relatively soon. Now that the series will be covering more modern events, Prince Andrew will be more a pivotal figure in the Royal Family. Along with that, though, comes the scandals he has been plagued with during his more recent years after the prince was associated with sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Prince Andrew's scandals won't be the only topical events The Crown will cover in its final two seasons, though. The high-profile divorce of Princess Diana and Prince Charles is expected to be a pivotal plot point of season 5, culminating in the princess' tragic death. The more modern stories have prompted public outcry for the series, with many claiming that The Crown should come with a disclaimer denoting the series as a fictional retelling of real events. Netflix has resisted these calls, though, and is forging ahead with the series' final two seasons, which will likely be as sensational as the previous one.
Source: Deadline