The Crown season 5 won’t hit Netflix until 2022 as streamer puts filming on hold until next summer

THE Crown season five has been delayed until 2022 as Netflix push filming back to next summer.

Imelda Staunton is set to take over from Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II in the fifth season of the hit period drama.

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However, Netflix confirmed to filming won't begin until June next year, meaning the series won't arrive on the streaming service until 2022.

While many shows have been delayed and had to push their premiere dates back because of the coronavirus pandemic, Deadline reports The Crown bosses always planned to take this break between seasons four and five.

It isn't the first time fans have had to wait a long time between seasons, as they had a two year gap between season two - which saw Claire Foy play the young Monarch - and season three which introduced Olivia in the role.

It had previously been confirmed that the show would end after season five, but earlier this month the show's creator Peter Morgan shocked fans by revealing there would be a sixth season after all.

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In a tweet from the official Netflix account, he said: “As we started to discuss the storylines for Series 5, it soon became clear that in order to do justice to the richness and complexity of the story we should go back to the original plan and do six seasons.”

Netflix's official Twitter account tweeted the exciting news, writing: "News from the palace: we can confirm there will be a sixth (and final) season of
@TheCrownNetflix, in addition to the previously announced five!"

It went on to conclude: "So to summarise – we’ll have one more season with Queen Olivia Colman, before she passes the crown to Imelda Staunton. We’re just half way through! Lovely."

Legendary actress Lesley Manville has also been confirmed to play Princess Margaret in seasons five and six, taking over from Helena Bonham Carter who played the royal in seasons three and four.

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A TV insider said: “Although several big names are in the frame, producers have only signed up Lesley and Imelda Staunton, who will play the Queen.”

The pair have previously acted together in several films including 2004’s Vera Drake, 2014’s Maleficent and last year’s sequel, Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil.

The Crown seasons 1-3 are available on Netflix now.