The Crown—Netflix’s hit show all about the familial inheritance of wealth, power, titles and influence within a nepotistic institution often derided as outdated — has found its Prince William in the form ofDominic West’s son, 13-year-oldSenat West, after a “nationwide search,“Varietyreports.
The dad West takes over from fellow BritJosh O’Connorin the hotly anticipated fifth season, portraying probable future king Prince Charles.Elizabeth Debicki, best known for her recent roles inWidowsandTenet, is set to play a very tall version of Diana, Princess of Wales, née Spencer. No doubt Debicki’s performance wll draw the attention ofKristen Stewartfans across the globe, with the latter’s name on the lips of awards prognosticators everywhere for her own interpretation of the people’s princess in Pablo Larraín’sSpencer.
Per Variety, Senan has been cast as “a slightly older Prince William, portraying him as he begins to mature into a young man,” not unlike O’Connor’s version of Prince Charles, which saw him bloom from a soft-spoken Cambrophile into an abusive bigamist. Hopefully, then, Senan’s William doesn’t follow in his on-screen dad’s shoes. He will make his debut in the final episodes ofThe CrownSeason 5, Variety continues, adding that “it’s believed the young actor’s audition, submitted via tape by his agent, caught the attention of the show’s producers.”
RELATED:‘The Crown’ Season 5 Casts ‘The Kite Runner’s Khalid Abdalla as Dodi Fayed
In September,The Kite Runner’sKhalid Abdallawas cast as the doomed Dodi Fayed, the son of billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed who died in an infamous Paris car crash next to Diana, with whom he shared an affair. The two were pursued by paparazzi to the very end. His father will be played bySalim Daw.
The fifth season of the show will follow the English monarchy into the turbulent ’90s, as Princess Diana becomes a media obsession in the wake of her divorce from Charles. Onerumored plot pointwill focus on Diana’s interview with BBC journalistMartin Bashiron the programPanorama, during which she divulged a number of details around the abuse she allegedly faced at the hands of her husband. It has been a point of controversy in the years since, with the real-life William saying earlier this year that it “holds no legitimacy and should never be aired again.”
Season 5 ofThe Crownwill also starImelda Stauntonas Queen Elizabeth II,Jonathan Pryceas Prince Philip,Lesley Manvilleas Princess Margaret,Jonny Lee Milleras Prime Minister John Major, andOlivia Williamsas Camilla Parker Bowles.
Season 5 will premiere in November 2022 on Netflix, where you can currently stream Seasons 1 through 4.
