The most-awaited series finale for 2023 has been on the waitlist for a while now. While the preeminent strikes that had Hollywood in a chokehold did not affect the UK-based series, the production for the same had to pursue a halt after the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who departed on 8th September 2022, out of respect for the royals. However, all has been silent ever since then, and now, Netflix has finally revealed the date for the release of the final season of The Crown as well as some plot details.
Monday, October 9, 2023, witnessed the streamer giant opening a locked door by revealing that the final Season of The Crown, that is, Season 6, will be released soon in 2023, and in two parts. The critically acclaimed and accolade-brimmed drama based on the lives of the British Royal family will return on Netflix with its first part on Thursday, November 16, and Part 2 will follow on Thursday, December 14. It is worth noting that this is the first time that a season of the series has been dissected into parts.
The streamer giant unveiled the anticipated dates in a new video clip that it released on YouTube on October 9, 2023. The royal sitting room narrowed as a clock ticked in the background. It began with the pacing of young Elizabeth II when she ascended the throne as she paced forward, played by the star of the first two seasons of the series, Claire Foy. Her idiosyncratic voice, which had captivated millions of viewers, dissolved into the voice of Olivia Coleman, who played middle-aged Queen Elizabeth for Seasons 3 and 4, again pacing within the royal quarters. Finally, as the light shone at the end of the long dark room, the final version of Queen Elizabeth II manifested in her signature purple clothing, as Imelda Staunton stood her ground. This bone-chilling maneuver sent the viewers into a frenzy as they blasted the comment section with their hopes of counting down the days until the final season’s arrival. The teaser imagined the passage of time by filming the stars walking through a vast royal residence via People.
Beginning with Foy’s monologue,” The crown is a symbol of permeance. It’s something you are, not what you do,” as a television flickered footage of her in character.
This was followed by the echo of Coleman’s voice, “Some portion of our natural selves is always lost. We have all made sacrifices. It is not a choice. It is a duty,” the video rolled to a framed photo of her in character as the sovereign.
As the final version of the Queen in Staunton, who appeared on the balcony and stood facing the camera. “But what about the life, I put aside? The woman— I put aside?” Staunton’s voice wondered. The BAFTA Award winner and Academy Award nominee made her debut as Queen Elizabeth in season 5 of The Crown and will close the saga in the upcoming season 6.
Netflix reiterated that the final season will focus on the events that were inflicted upon the royal family from 1997 to 2005, covering the most dreadful loss in royal history, someone we mourn to this day: the death of Princess Di. It has been confirmed that the exact moment of the impact in 1997 Paris will not be shown owing to the sentiments of the former Princess Of Wales’ two children, Prince William and Prince Harry. The first four episodes of Part 1 will follow the relationship between Diana and Dodi before the fatal car accident in Paris in 1997. Part 1 will see Elizabeth Debicki return as Princess Diana, Dominic West play now-King Charles, Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip, Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret and Staunton star as Queen Elizabeth. Salim Daw and Khalid Abdalla are also back as Mohamed Al Fayed and Dodi Fayed, and Part 1 will see Rufus Kampa and Fflyn Edwards make their debuts as a young Prince William and Prince Harry.
The second six episodes will hit the screens on December 14th as Part 2 of the final season. Here, the streamer giant revealed that ‘a young William settling back in at Eton following his mother’s death as the monarchy navigates a turbulent time in the public eye. Meanwhile, an aging Queen mulls the future of the monarchy with the marriage of Charles and now-Queen Camilla as well as the destiny ahead for Prince William and Kate Middleton.’(via People) Part 2 will also emphasize the entry of Ed McVey, who will play young Prince William alongside his brother Prince Harry, played by Luther Ford, and the entry of the current Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, played by Meg Bellamy.
Alongside the date announcement, Netflix also released two posters; the first shows Debicki in character, looking over her shoulder in a swimsuit on Mohamed’s yacht, and the second spotlights Staunton walking alone towards a bright beam of light.
The Crown sings its swan song on the 16th of November and 14th of December. Save the dates!