A spokesperson for Netflix has spoken out amid claims that the streaming service has found its Queen Elizabeth II for the final two series of The Crown.
On Thursday evening, just days after Olivia Colman made her debut as the monarch in the drama’s third series, it was reported that producers had settled on Imelda Staunton to succeed her in the royal role.
The Daily Mail reported that Imelda would take over when Olivia steps down at the end of series four, playing the Queen from the 1990s up until nearer the present day.
However, a Netflix representative has insisted that no final decisions have been made yet.
They said: “We are currently filming season 4 of The Crown but have not commissioned any further seasons as yet. Therefore any news on casting remains pure speculation.”
It had previously been speculated that the role might have gone to Dame Helen Mirren, who has played Queen Elizabeth II in two projects helmed by The Crown creator Peter Morgan in the past.
Last month, the Oscar-winning actress claimed she wasn’t up for revisiting the part, telling Lorraine Kelly: “I don’t think so… I think it’s more interesting when you see other portraits and it builds into a more interesting picture than just someone coming back.”
Earlier this year, Imelda was seen in the Downton Abbey film, and was recently revealed to be appearing in a revival of Hello Dolly!, set to debut on the West End in 2020.
While the role of the Queen will be played by Olivia until 2020, she was previously portrayed by Claire Foy, who won an Emmy for her performance in The Crown’s second series.
The third series of The Crown is now streaming on Netflix.