The Crown casts next Prince Philip

Esteemed actor Jonathan Pryce will play Prince Philip in the final seasons of The Crown.

He will succeed Tobias Menzies who plays the role in seasons 3 and 4.

Pryce, 73, whose credits include The Two Popes, Game of Thrones, Pirates of the Caribbean and Miss Saigon, will appear alongside Imelda Staunton (Queen Elizabeth II) and Lesley Manville (Princess Margaret).

According to The Sun, Pryce was “the only name” discussed to play the oldest version of the Duke of Edinburgh with “the final casting process taking place over Zoom calls during lockdown.”

Season 4 is due later this year with Season 5 delayed until 2022.

A sixth and final season will shoot in 2022.