The Crown prequel will span five decades of British monarchy from 1901 to 1947, Netflix announced Wednesday.
The Crown prequel production and creative team
Netflix said the new series will be produced by London based Left Bank Pictures and will focus on the reigns of Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII and George VI.
Peter Morgan, who created and served as showrunner on the original series, will return as writer and executive producer, Netflix said in a statement. Morgan said exploring the deeper historical background will help the writers shape narratives with richer metaphorical meaning that speak to contemporary concerns.
Budget and scale
Two people familiar with the project, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the plans publicly, said the production budget could reach $500 million.
Left Bank Pictures has said the original series mobilized an unusually large cast and crew, using more than 45,000 extras and filming at 719 locations to recreate mid 20th century Britain. Industry observers said the reported budget reflects Netflix’s aim to match or exceed that scale for the new project.
Historical scope and story
The Crown prequel will chart British history from the death of Queen Victoria in 1901 through the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten in 1947, covering the Edwardian era, the 1936 abdication crisis and the two world wars, Netflix said.
The series will follow how four monarchs shaped the monarchy and the nation across social and political upheaval, the company said. Producers told reporters they plan expansive period sets and large scale battle sequences to convey the era’s upheaval.
Legacy and expectations
Netflix noted that the original series, which reached six seasons, became a global television phenomenon and that the program has been honored with multiple Emmy Awards; Netflix said the series has won 24 Emmy Awards to date.
With the new The Crown prequel, Netflix aims to reinforce its leadership in narrative drama by investing in historical storytelling on a cinematic scale, company executives said in the announcement.
