When Dominic West was first pictured getting close to Lily James in Rome, many jumped to describe the situation as reminiscent of his role in The Affair. He is, after all, married. But now, we’re getting another parallel, as the actor is rumoured to have signed on the dotted line to play Prince Charles in the fifth season of The Crown.
According to The Sun, things have not been set it sone but it is very much under discussion. ‘Show bosses looked at several stars for the sought-after role, but he was by far their preferred actor’, a source says. ‘Now both parties are hammering out a deal.'
The irony of the alleged casting choice has not, the source adds, been lost on those in charge. Charles was, of course, repeatedly unfaithful on Diana throughout their marriage, due to his long-term love for the married Camilla Parker-Bowles. The relationship was immortalised by Diana in her iconic Panorama interview, in which she complained that ‘there were three of us, in that marriage.’ Still gives us shivers, that one.
If Dominic does indeed take the role, then he will join Elizabeth Debicki, who will play Diana; Imelda Staunton, who will play Queen Elizabeth II; Jonathan Pryce, who will play Prince Philip; and Lesley Manville, who will play Princess Margaret. It’s worth reiterating that this is still very much an unconfirmed report, but early rumours of Helena Bonham Carter and Gillian Anderson’s casting did prove correct.
Peter Morgan, who writes The Crown, is yet to discuss the time period that the fifth and sixth series – the final seasons of the hit Netflix show – will explore but we can expect to see Diana leave the royal family and embark on her transformation into celebrity and philanthropist, before taking her fateful trip to Paris in 1997. There has been speculation that the show could finish where The Queen – Peter’s Oscar-winning film starring Dame Helen Mirren – begins.
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