The Crown creator Peter Morgan will end the show after season six because the plot is too close to present day and recent events haven’t had ‘time to gain a proper perspective’
The Crown’s executive producer Suzanne Mackie confirmed that the much-loved show will end after season six, taking the Royal Family into the early 2000s.
Speaking to Broadcast on Thursday, the producer, 35, claimed the Netflix show’s creator Peter Morgan ‘simply can’t’ write another season because recent history hasn’t ‘had time to gain a proper perspective’.
She explained: ‘Peter has said it very articulately, that he simply can’t write something unless there has been time to gain a proper perspective.’
Final season: The Crown creator Peter Morgan will end the show after season six because the plot is too close to present day, executive producer Suzanne Mackie confirmed on Thursday
Suzanne also reflected on the fact that Peter likes to leave a decade between The Crown’s plot lines and current modern life.
She explained: ‘I think he’s [Peter] always felt 10 years is the minimum amount of time that he can see something in a historical context, to allow him to really understand it. I don’t think he’ll deviate from that.
The executive producer continued: ‘We all know these stories, but what Peter does so brilliantly is get underneath that, and understand the landscape in a more nuanced, complex, surprising way.’
The Crown insider then explained that if the show’s script gets too close to present day events she fears the plot will start to feel contrived.
Choice: Susanne added Peter ‘simply can’t’ write another script because recent history hasn’t ‘had time to gain a proper perspective’ (Emma Corrin and Josh O’Connor pictured in show)
Praise: The executive producer (pictured in 2019) added: ‘What Peter does so brilliantly is get underneath that, and understand the landscape in a more nuanced, complex, surprising way’
Despite the show’s success, Suzanne said she agreed with Peter’s decision and thought it was definitely time to move on from the popular show.
Reflecting on casting Emma Corrin as Diana, Princess of Wales, in season four, Suzanne claimed it was one of her proudest career highlights.
Emma was originally brought to the show to help out while Emerald Fennell ran her lines as Camilla Parker-Bowles.
But after the young actress impressed executives at the read-through they gave her a screen test and realised ‘that might be Diana’.
Shining star: Suzanne also gushed that casting Emma (pictured) as Princess Diana in season four of the show was one of her proudest career highlights
It comes after it was revealed last week that The Crown bosses have cast Jonny Lee Miller as Prime Minister John Major in the upcoming series.
In the ‘surprise’ casting, Netflix chiefs revealed the Trainspotting star, 48, who is rumoured to have rekindled his romance with ex Angelina Jolie, will play the Tory Prime Minister, who was in charge of the country from November 1990 and May 1997.
He followed on from Margaret Thatcher’s leadership, with The Iron Lady played by Gillian Anderson in the wildly-popular Netflix period drama.
Shock: It comes after it was revealed last week that The Crown bosses Jonny Lee Miller as Prime Minister John Major last week (pictured in Elementary)
Insiders told The Sun: ‘It may seem like an unlikely casting as the two men couldn’t be more different, but the creators of the Crown aren’t interested in an actor playing a version of themselves.
‘It was a similar idea to when Sex Education star Gillian Anderson was cast as Margaret Thatcher in the last series of The Crown, a decision which surprised fans of the show at the time.
‘But at 48, Jonny is actually the perfect age to play Sir John, who became PM at the age of 47 after Maggie was removed from power.’
Sir John was Prime Minister from 1990 to 1997, and served as Chancellor of the Exchequer and Foreign Secretary under Thatcher from 1987 to 1990.
Former PM: Sir John was Prime Minister from 1990 to 1997, and served as Chancellor of the Exchequer and Foreign Secretary under Thatcher from 1987 to 1990 (pictured in 2015)
Insiders told The Sun: ‘It may seem like an unlikely casting as the two men couldn’t be more different, but the creators of the Crown aren’t interested in an actor playing a version of themselves’
Major entered politics at a young age, standing as a young Conservative for Lambeth Council at the age of 21 and became chairman of the Housing Committee.
He then stood for Parliament twice in St Pancras from 1974 and lost, before winning in Huntingdonshire in 1979.
The politician became a minister in 1985 and became a part of the Cabinet in 1987 as Chief Secretary to the Treasury before being promoted to Foreign Secretary in 1989, and shortly after he was named Chancellor.
Major replaced Mrs Thatcher in 1990 after winning a leadership contest which she dropped out of.
Politician: Major replaced Mrs Thatcher in 1990 after winning a leadership contest which she dropped out of (pictured in 1990)
A Tale of Two Johnny’s
Jonny Lee Miller
Born: Kingston-Upon-Thames, Surrey
Known for: Acting for nearly 40 years in Film, TV and Theatre, with most notable roles in Trainspotting, Elementary, Hackers
Romances: Married to Angelina Jolie from 1996 to 1999, also previously married to Michele Hicks from 2008 to 2018.
Children: One son, Buster Timothy Miller, 13, with ex-wife Michele.
Accolades: Miller won a Laurence Olivier Award for his performance in Frankenstein at the National Theatre in 2012.
He was also nominated for a BAFTA in 2007 for The Flying Scotsman.
Sir John Major
Born: Carshalton, Surrey
Known for: Prime Minister from 1990 to 1997, and served as Chancellor of the Exchequer and Foreign Secretary under Thatcher from 1987 to 1990
Romances: Major has been married to wife Norma Johnson since 1970.
Children: Two children, daughter Elizabeth, 49, and son James, 46.
Accolades: Major was given a Knighthood in 2005 as a Companion Of The Garter by Queen Elizabeth II.
Mrs Thatcher had won a first ballot in the leadership contest, but failed to secure outright victory, and initially pledged to continue her bid.
But the majority of her cabinet members had told her she would not win, which Mr Major knew, and she later decided to step down.
He then pledged to ‘destroy’ his predecessor after believing she was critical of him following her departure, according to a book by former Daily Telegraph editor Charles Moore in 2019.
Major was known for having a mild-mannered style which may appear to be in stark contrast to Miller, who is known for playing bad boy characters like Sick Boy in Trainspotting.
Bit different: Major was known for having a mild-mannered style in stark contrast to Miller, who is known for playing bad boy characters like Sick Boy in Trainspotting (pictured)
THE CROWN: The Politicians
WINSTON CHURCHILL
John Lithgow
SERIES: One
TIME IN OFFICE: From 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955
– John was the only American actor to star in the first season of the show and wore a fat suit for the role
WINSTON CHURCHILL
ANTHONY EDEN
Jeremy Northam
SERIES: One
TIME IN OFFICE: Succeeded Churchill in 1955 and held the post til 1957
ANTHONY EDEN
HAROLD MACMILLAN
Anton Lesser
SERIES: Two
TIME IN OFFICE: Took over from Eden when he resigned in 1957 until 1963
HAROLD MACMILLAN
HAROLD WILSON
Jason Watkins
SERIES: Three
TIME IN OFFICE: From October 1964 to June 1970, and again from March 1974 to April 1976
HAROLD WILSON
JOHN F. KENNEDY AND JACKIE O
Michael C. Hall and Jodi Balfour
SERIES: Two
– The Crown portrayed the late president as a high-functioning drug addict
JACKIE O
JOHN F. KENNEDY AND JACKIE O
MARGARET THATCHER
Gillian Anderson
SERIES: Four
TIME IN OFFICE: Thatcher became the first female prime minister when she was elected in 1979 and held the position until 1990.
MARGARET THATCHER
Fans of the show were notably surprised by Miller’s casting announcement, and they took to Twitter to share their thoughts.
One person wrote: ‘Jonny Lee Miller – best known for playing Sick Boy in Trainspotting – will play Prime Minister Sir John Major in the fifth season of The Crown. Didn’t see that coming.. (sic)’
Another added: ‘I think its unprecedented, yeah. A major part of the excitement also comes from the casting as opposed to to the storylines, which is quite unusual in itself.
‘Jonny Lee Miller as John Major though, just announced. I mean, Sir John must be smiling today.’
While one person joked: ‘Oh ok ok I’ll start watching The Crown!! But I am going to be very confused hornily because Jonny Lee Miller is Mr Superhottypants-McBrilliantActor, and John Major is Mr Noneofthosethings (sic)’
Reaction: Fans of the show were notably surprised by Miller’s casting announcement, and they took to Twitter to share their thoughts
The announcement comes after it was revealed he has been reconnecting with ex Angelina following her visits to his Brooklyn-area apartment.
She has been staying at the ultra luxurious Carlyle Hotel overlooking Central Park while visiting New York with her children, where room prices begin at $700, with suites ranging thousands of dollars per night.
The Sun recently claimed that Miller has not only met Pax, 17, but also Jolie’s youngest son Knox, 12. Angelina shares custody of both kids with ex-husband Brad Pitt, in addition to Maddox, 19, Zahara, 16, Shiloh, 15 and and Vivienne, 12
‘On her first evening with Jonny, Angelina only took Knox along, and they got on like a house on fire,’ a source told the outlet. ‘Knox is a sweet kid and I imagine she decided he was the easiest one to begin introductions with.’
And Pax was curious what Miller was like so he came the next evening.
They get along well: The announcement comes after it was revealed he has been reconnecting with ex Angelina following her visits to his Brooklyn-area apartment
‘She went back the next afternoon with Pax, who was curious to meet this guy she’s always spoken so fondly about,’ said the insider. ‘They only hung out for a short while at Jonny’s apartment, but they seemed to get along well.’
Last week, The Girl Interrupted star spent about three hours inside — where the pair reportedly enjoyed dinner — and was then spotted exiting the premise at 10:30pm.
They were married in 1996 after meeting on the set of their movie Hackers a year prior, but separated shortly after and officially divorced in 1999.
Back in March, it was reported that The Crown’s casting directors have begun looking for a sandy-haired pre-teen boy to play Prince William in the much-anticipated fifth series of the hit Netflix show.
Back then: He will play the Tory Prime Minister, who was in charge of the country from November 1990 and May 1997 (Major and his wife Norma in 1990)
Netflix is said to have already put out casting calls to hundreds of top schools and drama clubs for a youngster to play the future king as preparations to film the fifth series get underway.
A Netflix source told the Times that the hunt for the Duke of Cambridge was in its early days, while the search for his younger brother, Prince Harry, would begin at a later stage.
Casting director Nina Gold is said to be looking for youngsters between the ages of nine and 13 to play Prince William, who was played in the fourth series by Lucas Barber-Grant.
Could it be? Netflix have reportedly put out casting calls to hundreds of top schools and drama clubs for a youngster to play Prince William (pictured in August 1995 with his parents and Prince Harry) in The Crown’s fifth series
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