The Crown producer raises fears over future of the show as he says he isn’t sure when filming will resume… and admits concern over social distancing
The Crown’s chief executive Andy Harries has raised questions over the future of the show as he admitted he doesn’t know when filming will resume.
The film boss revealed that they are looking at all of their options ‘closely’ but confessed his fears over whether they would be able to film using social distancing.
The fourth series of the hit Netflix series wrapped before the coronavirus outbreak gripped the globe, however series five of the show is currently in limbo.
Uncertain times: The Crown’s chief executive Andy Harries has raised questions over the future of the show as he admitted he doesn’t know when filming will resume (pictured Olivia Coleman who stars as Queen Elizabeth II)
Andy, who is chief executive and co-founder of Left Bank Pictures, told a BAFTA masterclass that they are trying to find an answer during ‘challenging times’.
He said: ‘I hate to be doomy and gloomy because I am an optimistic guy. Every day is a new challenge and every day you’ve got to be up for that challenge and you have got to plow on.
‘Obviously we are facing challenging times and I don’t know when we will return to filming normally.’
Weighing it up: The film boss revealed that they are looking at all of their options ‘closely’ but confessed his fears over whether they would be able to film using social distancing (pictured Erin Doherty who plays Princess Anne)
Opinion: Andy (pictured), who is chief executive and co-founder of Left Bank Pictures, told a BAFTA masterclass that they are trying to find an answer during ‘challenging times’
He continued: ‘I am not sure if we can film socially distanced. I am sure some productions could do it but I am not sure that the shows we are doing would work, but we are looking at it very closely.
‘Obviously we don’t know how long this will go on. It’s going to be hard to because I suspect that, because all the big broadcasters will be losing a lot of money, a lot of productions will be trimmed back – a lot of budgets will be trimmed.’
He added: ‘It will be tough for producers and it’s hard to pretend otherwise, I am sorry to say.’
The Netflix hit had been shooting its fourth season across the UK and Europe since autumn 2019, but confirmed in March that it has wrapped filming early as the TV industry all but shuts down amid the crisis.
The production team gave some reassurance to fans though as they confirmed all the principal photography has been completed, after cast and crew worked hard to get the series in the can a few days ahead of schedule.
Fans are hoping the new series will follow the autumn release date of previous seasons.
Up in the air: The fourth series of the hit Netflix series wrapped before the coronavirus outbreak gripped the globe, however series five of the show is currently in limbo
And while a number of major Netflix shows such as The Witcher and Stranger Things had to halt production in the middle of shooting, The Crown was able to complete principal photography just in time
A spokesperson confirmed to Metro.co.uk: ‘The Crown has now completed principal photography on season 4 having pulled the final shoot date forward by a few days.’
Deadline had previously claimed the production company behind the show, Left Bank Pictures, only needed to ‘tie up loose ends’ with the filming.
He said: ‘I hate to be doomy and gloomy because I am an optimistic guy. Every day is a new challenge and every day you’ve got to be up for that challenge and you have got to plow on (pictured Tobias Menzies who plays Prince Philip)
That’s a wrap! The Netflix hit had been shooting its fourth season across the UK and Europe since autumn 2019, but confirmed in March that it has wrapped filming early as the TV industry all but shuts down amid the crisis