After nearly two years without new episodes, The Crown's reign is continuing on Netflix. Season three of the Emmy-winning drama drops on Sunday, Nov. 17 with a brand-new cast playing the very famous English royal family.
For seasons three and four, which were shot back-to-back, Olivia Colman takes over the role of Queen Elizabeth II from Emmy winner Claire Foy. In an interview with EW, Colman said she instantly signed on, but then quickly found herself questioning her every move.
"It's horrendous," she joked. "Everyone loves Claire Foy, so I have got the worst job in the world at the moment. You're saying all the worst things, thanks!"
Colman, who won an Oscar for playing Queen Anne in The Favourite, said she found herself "trying to do Claire impressions" during the early days of shooting The Crown. However, was it all part of the plan considering season three picks up basically where season two ended? "Yes, actually. Maybe it was a stroke of genius that I was doing that," Colman told EW. "That's what it was! Yes, that was pre-planned!"
Joining Colman in season three is Tobias Menzies as Prince Philip, Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret, Ben Daniels as Tony Armstrong-Jones, Josh O'Connor as Prince Charles, Erin Doherty as Princess Anne, Marion Bailey as The Queen Mother and Jason Watkins as Prime Minister Harold Wilson.
Bonham Carter actually met the late royal she's playing on screen, her uncle was "very close to her." They met at Windsor Castle and Princess Margaret said she was getting better, presumably she was talking about Bonham Carter's acting. Bonham Carter was nominated for an Oscar for playing her The Crown character's mother in The King's Speech.
Set between 1964 and 1977, the new season from Peter Morgan takes on a number of historical events, including Anthony Blunt's Soviet revelation and the 1966 Aberfan disaster, as well as many personal royal stories, like the marriage between Margaret and Tony Armstrong-Jones. The new season also features a young Prince Charles beginning his relationship with Camilla (Emerald Fennell) in the years before he met Princess Diana.
"People always assume Charles cheated on Diana with Camilla," series creator Peter Morgan said. "It's absolutely the wrong way round. He was deeply in love with Camilla and forced to marry Diana."
Princess Diana will be introduced in season four of the series, likely to premiere in 2020.
Get acquainted with the new cast below.
The Crown season three premieres Sunday, Nov. 17 on Netflix. Head over to EW to read more about the new season.