Netflix's new series The Crown is set to challenge traditional television with a reported £100 million budget, 60 episodes, and 7,000 costumes. The show, which premieres this week, tells the story of Britain's monarchy from the reign of King George VI to the present day.
Writer Peter Morgan, known for the film The Queen and the play The Audience, says the scale of the project is daunting. 'I'm utterly exhausted having written what I have written. The thought of continuing fills me mainly with dread,' he said.
The series stars Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II and Matt Smith as Prince Philip. Morgan describes it as 'about a woman, a family, a marriage and a country,' covering the second half of the 20th century. Each season is expected to span roughly a decade.
Morgan acknowledges that Netflix's streaming model allows for binge-watching, and he has written the series with that in mind. 'I'm certainly writing it assuming it's possible that people are watching two or three hours at a time,' he said.
The first 10 episodes of The Crown are available on Netflix from Friday. The show aims to go beyond familiar historical anecdotes, exploring lesser-known aspects of the monarchy and its relationship with the government.
