The Crown 'forced to rewrite scripts as star refuses to reprise role'

The Crown bosses are ‘forced to rewrite their planned script as major star refuses to reprise their role for the sixth and final season’

Producers of Netflix’s The Crown were reportedly thrown into chaos as they failed to bring back Gillian Anderson for the upcoming series.

The Hollywood actress previously portrayed Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the royal drama, but has allegedly refused to reprise the role for the new series.

Despite winning an Outstanding Supporting Actress Emmy award for the role, it has been claimed that ‘scheduling issues’ mean that she won’t take on the role again.

Depicting the events leading up to Princess Diana’s 1997 death, series six of the show is expected to air towards the end of 2023.

But the casting trouble appeared to cause issues behind the scenes, with a source telling The Sun that Gillian not returning was a ‘blow’ to production.

Chaos: The Crown bosses were reportedly forced to rewrite their planned script as Gillian Anderson refused to reprise her role for the sixth and final season (pictured in the show)

The insider told the publication: ‘Gillian’s portrayal of Thatcher was met with global critical acclaim and she was a huge asset to The Crown. 

‘It had been hoped she would be able to make an appearance in scenes around the golden wedding but sadly that has not been the case due to scheduling issues.’ 

Assuring that altered scripts mean that viewers won’t notice any issues behind the scenes, the source added: ‘It’s been another blow for producers in what’s already been a fairly dogged production’.

It has been claimed that the original script planned for the show to recreate a dinner held by Queen and Philip, attended by Thatcher, Princess Anne, and others.

But without Gillian to play the former Prime Minister, executives are said to have switched it to a different dinner, which she was not in attendance to – meaning the Sex Education actress would no longer be needed.  

MailOnline has contacted Netflix and Gillian Anderson for comment. 

It was quite the acclaimed role for the screen star as she bagged the second Emmy award in her career for the portrayal back in 2021.

Despite the season depicting the love story of Princess Diana and Prince Charles, it was Gillian’s Margaret Thatcher, who tackled the political world of Britain and her relationship with the Queen, that resonated with viewers.

A source said: ‘It had been hoped she would be able to make an appearance in scenes around the golden wedding but sadly that has not been the case due to scheduling issues’

In character: The Hollywood actress previously portrayed Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (left in 1989) in the royal drama, but has allegedly refused to reprise the role for the new series

The Crown was created and writen by Gillian’s ex partner Peter Morgan, with the pair dating for four years until 2020 and sparking rumours of a rekindled romance earlier this year.

Highly-anticipated, the sixth and final season of The Crown will see the return of Elizabeth Debicki’s Princess Diana – in scenes depicting the year of the late Princess’s death. 

Over recent weeks, filming for the series has been underway at St Andrews University, where the Prince and Princess of Wales went and met as students in 2001. 

And many locals have spotted the actors in action, with videos shared on TikTok showing Meg Bellamy and Ed McVey – who have been cast as Kate Middleton and Prince William – filming scenes on the historic campus, which dates back to the 15th century. 

Bond: The Crown was created and writen by Gillian’s ex partner Peter Morgan, with the pair dating for four years until 2020 and sparking rumours of a rekindled romance earlier this year (pictured together)

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