David Farnor | On 18, Jun 2015

Matt Smith has joined the cast of Netflix’s series, The Crown.

The streaming service has confirmed the cast of its historical epic, which follows the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and her relationships with Britain’s post-war Prime Ministers.

The former Doctor Who star will play the young Duke of Edinburgh, Philip Mountbatten, alongside Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II. The show, which is the first UK production commissioned by Netflix, will also star John Lithgow as Sir Winston Churchill.

The behind-the-camera talent is just as royally impressive: The Crown reunites writer Peter Morgan (The Queen, Frost/Nixon) with director Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot, The Hours), as well as producer Andy Harries (The Queen) – a team that between them shares six Oscar nominations.

The show, penned by Morgan and inspired by West End play The Audience, will tell the inside story of two of the most famous addresses in the world — Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street – and the intrigues, loves and machinations behind the great events that shaped the second half of the 20th century.

Each season will explore a different decade of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. Season 1 begins with a 25-year-old Princess faced with the daunting prospect of leading the monarchy, while also forging a relationship with the war-hardened Churchill.

With an estimated budget of around £100 million, the starry cast announcement confirms that the epic is thinking big on all fronts: Netflix reportedly fought off competition from both the BBC and ITV for the drama, which is produced by Left Bank Pictures in association with Sony Pictures Television.

The Crown will be released in all Netflix territories around the world in 2016.

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