The Crown's third season [1] might be just a gleam in Netflix's eye at this point, but that hasn't stopped the lavish historical drama [2] from getting casting underway. Since the show follows the rise and fall of Queen Elizabeth II's reign in the British monarchy, we always knew that a few different actors were going to play the key characters over the years so as to accurately portray their progressing age (instead of, say, using extensive prosthetic makeup). From the perfect replacement for Claire Foy to the actress who will be stepping into Princess Margaret's badass shoes [3], read on to meet The Crown's season three cast — so far.
Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II
The Crown would not be even half as incredible as it is without Claire Foy's stellar performance [4] as Queen Elizabeth II. That being said, the streaming giant could not have picked a better successor for her. It was announced in October that Olivia Colman has signed on to play the monarch [5] in the next two seasons of the drama. The British actress has popped up in everything from dark crime dramas like Broadchurch to comedies like Fleabag, but all of her roles have something in common: she nails each and every one of them. Her appearance in 2016's The Night Manager made such an impression that she won a Golden Globe for best supporting actress and was also nominated for an Emmy. Hopefully the real Queen Elizabeth, The Crown's number one fan [6], approves.
Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret
Thanks to Vanessa Kirby's exceptional performance [7], the fashionable, rebellious princess ends up being the second season's most relatable (and entertaining) character [8]. Fortunately, it looks like Netflix has found the perfect actress to replace her in seasons three and four [9]: Ocean's 8 [10]'s Helena Bonham Carter. Although the streaming giant still hasn't made things official, it seems like a done deal thanks to Kirby's recent Instagram photo [11]. The two actresses happily posed for the camera, and Kirby even captioned the cute shot, "Honoured @thecrownnetflix." Seeing them next to each other only further proves how great the casting of Carter would really be.
Tobias Menzies as Prince Philip
If you had hopes of seeing Paul Bettany [13] in the role, we're sorry to say that Netflix has opted for Menzies instead [14]. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Bettany was close to securing the role, but ultimately had to drop out due to a scheduling conflict. But that's OK, because Menzies is a great addition to the series. Plus, you have to admit that he has a pretty striking resemblance to Prince Philip, and his roles on Outlander [15] and Game of Thrones may have prepared him for something British, royal, and of a certain era.