‘The Crown’ may develop prequel series about sordid 20th-century scandals
Variety.While “The Crown” covers Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding in 1947 and her reign from the 1950s to the present day, the new show would look into the earlier events of the family’s tumultuous history.The series would reportedly dive into the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, and then into the dynasties of four British kings: Edward VII (1901-1910), George V (1910-1936), Edward VIII (1936) and George VI (1936-1952).These rulers governed the UK and the country’s Commonwealth realms from the period after Victoria and up to the start of Queen Elizabeth’s monarchy in 1952.The outlet reported that the new show has not been greenlighted nor is it in production as of yet.According to the Daily Mail, though, the prequel would run for about three to five seasons.In earlier seasons of “The Crown,” Jared Harris played King George VI, while Alex Jennings and Derek Jacobi both appeared as King Edward VIII.Jennings, 64, originated the role of the controversial Duke of Windsor for Seasons 1 and 2. Jacobi, 83, took over for Season 3, portraying the royal in his older years.George VI and King Edward VIII famously had a contentious relationship, with the latter abdicating the throne after less than a year in power back in 1936 so he could marry his beloved Wallis Simpson.