The Latest "Crown" Trailer Reveals Gillian Anderson's Margaret Thatcher Transformation

From Oprah Magazine

• The fourth season of The Crown is returning with 10 new episodes on November 15, 2020.

• Season 4 of The Crown will introduce Emma Corrin as Princess Diana, and Gillian Anderson as PM Margaret Thatcher.

• Olivia Colman will reprise her role as Queen Elizabeth for one more season, before being replaced by Imelda Staunton for The Crown's final two seasons.

• Watch the first full trailer here.

All hail The Crown. The fourth season of The Crown is arriving to Netflix on November 15, with a few highly anticipated progressions. Set in the '80s, the fourth season will capture Diana Spencer's introduction to the royal family. Pennyworth actress Emma Corrin will play the beloved "People's Princess," who married Prince Charles at the age of 20.

Based on a newly released teaser, The Crown will depict Charles and Diana's wedding—and of course, the sapphire engagement ring that Kate Middleton now wears. The Crown will also focus on another relationship: Queen Elizabeth II and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, played by Gillian Anderson.

"I am so excited to be joining the cast and crew of The Crown and to have the opportunity to portray such a complicated and controversial woman," Anderson said in a statement. "Thatcher was undoubtedly formidable but I am relishing exploring beneath the surface and, dare I say, falling in love with the icon who, whether loved or despised, defined an era."

We also know that cast members from season 3 will return, like Olivia Colman (Queen Elizabeth II), Tobias Menzies (Prince Philip), Helena Bonham Carter (Princess Margaret), and Ben Daniels (Anthony Armstrong-Jones).

Here's everything else we know about season 4 so far.

Season 4 of The Crown will be released on November 15.

Have you noticed that all of the seasons of The Crown come out in the winter? It's sort of a trend! Considering that season 1 premiered in November 2016, season 2 in December 2017, and season 3 in November 2019. Fitting into the pattern, the fourth season of The Crown will premiere on November 15.

The first full-length trailer sets the mood for season 4.

The trailer for The Crown's fourth season is here, and—if we're honest—it's quite foreboding. Judging by the trailer, this will be a tense and dramatic season. Even as Emma Corrin's Diana dances and smiles, the trailer's intense, pounding music overpowers her joy, and creates an ominous mood.

The trailer especially sets the scene for Charles and Diana's tumultuous marriage. Like all seasons of The Crown, season 4 will show what really is going on behind the fairy tale.

Another trailer shows Margaret Thatcher clashing with Queen Elizabeth II.

Yes, yes, we know this season of The Crown will be about Charles and Diana. But after watching this new trailer, the tense relationship we can't wait to see play out is the one between Margaret Thatcher and Queen Elizabeth II.

In a statement about the upcoming season, creator Peter Morgan spoke to how much he enjoyed writing fictional versions of these two historic figures. “It was a commonly held piece of wisdom that the Queen and Thatcher didn’t get on. I think there was probably a lot of respect. But they also had many differences, it was really fun exploring their differences and their similarities. I also get a chance to explore them both as mothers. Writing Thatcher and the Queen as mothers was probably an angle that no one has explored before. It yielded one of my favorite episodes in the season," Morgan said.

The season 3 cast will return—with some fresh faces.

The Crown recasts the show every two seasons, which means your season 3 favorites will return. Yes, prepare to say hello again to Olivia Colman (Queen Elizabeth II), Tobias Menzies (Prince Philip), Helena Bonham Carter (Princess Margaret), and Ben Daniels (Anthony Armstrong-Jones).

Pennyworth actress Emma Corrin confirmed that she was cast as Princess Diana.

"I have been glued to the show and to think I'm now joining this incredibly talented acting family is surreal," she said in a statement. Princess Diana was an icon and her effect on the world remains profound and inspiring. To explore her through Peter Morgan's writing is the most exception opportunity and I will strive to do her justice!"

Gillian Anderson will be playing Margaret Thatcher. She confirmed the news via The Crown's official Twitter account.

Netflix revealed first look photos of Emma Corrin as Princess Diana.

On September 29, Netflix released a series of first look photos from season 4 of The Crown. Based on this batch of photos, it's clear that Princess Diana is going to be a central character this season.

In one photo, Camilla (Emerald Fennell) and Diana appear to be having an intimate conversation. We can't wait to hear that exchange.

Corrin isn't the only newcomer to season 4 of The Crown. In another first look photo, Gillian Anderson rocks Margaret Thatcher's immaculate bouffant in this picture. She stands alongside Stephen Boxer, who plays Thatcher's husband, Denis.

In another first look photo, Princess Margaret reclines in Mustique, her Caribbean getaway. She may be in paradise—but she looks vexed.

Obviously, it wouldn't be The Crown without the Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. The characters' season 4 iterations are looking stately at an opera house.

Prince Charles is going to take center stage.

When Netflix confirmed Josh O'Connor as Prince Charles, his statement hinted at his character's arc and just what we can expect moving forward. "Seasons 3 and 4 will follow some of the most turbulent events in the Prince of Wales's life and our national story and I'm excited to be bringing to life the man in the midst of it all," he said.

Considering that Margaret Thatcher will enter the picture in season 4—and that each season roughly shows about a decade's worth of the royal family's life—we predict that season 4 will take place between 1979 and 1989. Thatcher was the U.K's prime minister from 1979 to 1990.

Don't worry, The Crown will continue after season 4.

Following The Crown's 2016 debut, Netflix's chief content officer, Ted Sarandos, revealed that Peter Morgan, the writer and creator of the show, had pitched the series for a total of 60 hours.

"The idea is to do this over six decades, in six seasons presumably, and make the whole show over eight to 10 years," he said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. If that ends up being the case, that means viewers can expect one more recasting before the series finale.

Now, we have a better idea of The Crown's future. The show will wrap up after six seasons, all to be set in the '90s. A new cast will take over: Imelda Staunton will play Queen Elizabeth II, Lesley Manville will play Princess Margaret, and Elizabeth Debicki will play Princess Di. But for now? Season 4, here we come.

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