Netflix has reportedly greenlit a prequel for 'The Crown'
Source: Engadget
Production Details
Netflix has closed the deal to start production on a prequel for the hit series The Crown, according to the Daily Mail. The streaming company has reportedly been in talks with the show’s producer, Left Bank Pictures, for prequels since 2022, even before The Crown’s last season aired in late 2023. Deals have now been struck, and Left Bank has received the green light to officially start working on the project.
The prequel will cover the British royal family’s lives from the death of Queen Victoria in 1901 up to the beginning of the events in the original series, particularly the marriage of the then‑Princess Elizabeth to Philip Mountbatten. The Daily Mail said the companies have allocated £500 million ($681 million) for the prequel’s production, which will also be helmed by The Crown creator Peter Morgan.
Timeline & Scope
- Start point: Queen Victoria’s death, 1901
- End point: Lead‑up to Princess Elizabeth’s wedding (the first episode of The Crown)
- Key events: Early 20th‑century royal affairs, the transition from the Edwardian era to the modern monarchy
Creator Comments
Peter Morgan previously said he wasn’t done with the subject but couldn’t imagine tackling more recent events. The Crown’s last season already covered Prince William and Catherine’s relationship, as well as King Charles and Queen Camilla’s.
“I might find some way of coming into it from a different way,” Morgan said. “If you go back in time, you always have that wonderful opportunity for metaphor.”
—Telegraph interview
Reception & Awards
While Netflix has yet to confirm the story details, green‑lighting the prequel aligns with the original show’s critical and popular success:
- Won the SAG Awards streaming category in 2018 – see the lone streaming win.
- Helped Netflix dominate the Golden Globes a few years later – see the Golden Globe wins.
- Consistently topped Netflix’s charts during its run – see the ratings report.