The fifth season of ‘The Crown’, about the British royal family, will be released on Netflix in November 2022. But then the recordings must be completed on time. And that seems to be a problem now that everything is at a standstill because no fewer than eight employees have tested positive for the corona virus.
“The Crown finished filming a day ahead of schedule for the Christmas break after a few positive cases within the team”
The Daily Mail reports that it was decided Wednesday evening to stop shooting after eight members of the crew tested positive. On Thursday evening, Netflix confirmed: “The Crown evening has finished filming a day ahead of schedule for the Christmas break following a few positive cases within the team, ensuring the safety of others and allowing everyone in production to enjoy a celebratory break with their loved ones.”
The coronavirus outbreak on set comes after Bertie Carvel and Lydia Leonard were first pictured as Tony Blair and wife Cherie in Kent on Tuesday. Earlier this week, they filmed the Blairs voting in the 1997 election.
Imelda Staunton will return in the skin of the Queen next season. The 65-year-old actress, known to the general public for her role as Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter series, plays Elizabeth in the fifth and sixth series. She succeeds Olivia Coleman and Claire Foy, who each played the queen for two seasons in earlier phases of life.
The other members of the British royal family are also played by new older actors from the fifth season. Dominic West, Lesley Manville and Jonathan Pryce take over the roles of Josh O’Connor as Prince Charles, Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret and Tobias Menzies as Prince Philip, respectively.