The Crown Season 4: Everything We Know

Faye Thomas/Getty

We’re still not-so-patiently awaiting news of a premiere date for The Crown Season 3, but Netflix is already prepping the show’s fourth season. Yesterday (April 9), Netflix announced it finally cast its Princess Diana for Season 4, signifying that the future Princess of Wales will not, in fact, appear in the show’s forthcoming third season. Here’s everything we know about Season 4 thus far.

1) It will feature the same cast as Season 3.

The Crown production plans to re-cast the series every two seasons, so Olivia Colman, Tobias Menzies, Helena Bonham Carter, and Ben Daniels will continue to play the four main characters—Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Princess Margaret, and Anthony Armstrong-Jones, respectively—through Season 4 of the show. See the complete cast of The Crown Season 3 here.

2) Princess Diana will make her first appearance.

Contrary to earlier reports, Princess Diana will not appear in Season 3. She’ll make her debut in Season 4, and will be played by up-and-coming actress Emma Corrin. “Beyond excited and honoured to be joining The Crown for its fourth season,” Corrin said in a statement released by Netflix. “I have been glued to the show since the first episode and to think I’m now joining this incredibly talented acting family is just surreal. Princess Diana was an icon, and her effect on the world remains profound and inspiring. To be given the chance to explore her through Peter Morgan’s writing is the most exceptional opportunity, and I will strive to do her justice!”

3) Gillian Anderson will reportedly play Margaret Thatcher.

On January 20, 2019, Deadline confirmed Gillian Anderson will play British prime minister Margaret Thatcher in Season 4 of The Crown. Back in 2017, the UK Times reported that Season 4 would focus on the Thatcher years, while Season 3 would focus on Prime Minister Harold Wilson. However, The Hollywood Reporter revealed on January 21 that Anderson was still just in talks to join the show, and her deal would “likely” cover two seasons if confirmed, meaning Thatcher could potentially show up in Season 3.

4) Prince Charles plays a much larger role in Seasons 3 and 4.

Netflix announced in July 2018 that the show cast Josh O’Connor in the role of Prince Charles. O’Connor’s statement to Netflix hinted at his character’s trajectory throughout the next two seasons: “Seasons 3 and 4 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.”

Twitter Netflix

5) Season 4 will likely premiere in 2020.

With Season 3 officially due to drop in 2019, it follows that Season 4 will premiere the year after—just like Season 1 aired in 2016 and Season 2 in 2017. In February 2018, Morgan confirmed to Variety that Seasons 3 and 4 are shooting back to back, and the news of Corrin’s casting as Diana confirms Season 4 is, at the very least, in pre-production.