The Hollywood Reporter brings word that Josh O’Connor (Florence Foster Jenkins) and Marion Bailey (Allied) have joined the third season of Netflix’s drama series, The Crown. O’Connor will portray the older version of Prince Charles who was previously played by Julian Baring, with Bailey playing the aged-up Queen Mother, previously played by Victoria Hamilton.
“I am thrilled to be joining The Firm for the next installment of The Crown. Season three and four will follow some of the most turbulent events in the Prince of Wales’ life and our national story and I’m excited to be bringing to life the man in the midst of it all. I’m very aware it’s a formidably talented family to be joining, but reliably informed I have the ears for the part and will fit right in,” O’Connor told the outlet.
“Wonderful to be joining The Crown. It’s a brilliant show and we have a tough act to follow, but what a gift to be playing the fascinating and greatly loved Queen Mother. Thrilled to be on board and working with such a top-notch team,” added Bailey.
The third season of The Crown will see the entire cast aging up. Along with Olivia Coleman as Queen Elizabeth, Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret, and Ben Daniels as Anthony Armstrong-Jones, Tobias Menzies will take over for Matt Smith who played Prince Philip during the first two seasons. Prince Charles and Princess Anne will also grow older with Josh O’Connor and Erin Doherty filling in those roles.
According to creator Peter Morgan, season three of The Crown will take place during 1964 and 1972 and is expected to cover major events in British history, like Princess Margaret’s affair with Roddy Llewellyn, Margaret Thatcher’s political rise, and the introduction of Camilla Parker Bowles. Both seasons 3 and 4 of the series will be shot back-to-back, with season 3 being released in 2019.
The Crown, a Netflix original series, tells the inside story of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, as the fragile social order established after the Second World War breaks apart. Based on the award-winning play, “The Audience,” the series reunites creator/writer Peter Morgan (The Queen, Frost/Nixon) with director Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot, The Hours) and producer Andy Harries (The Queen).
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
