Olivia Colman will play Queen Elizabeth in the third series of 'The Crown'.
Olivia Colman
The 'Broadchurch' actress will take over from Claire Foy - who played the monarch during her coronation and marriage to Prince Philip - in the next instalment of the Netflix drama as the story progresses into the royal's fourth decade of life.
The 43-year-old star will play the role for the next two series and then producers will go on the hunt for another actress to take over the reins in order to document the queen's life from her 60s to her 90s - providing Netflix decide to recommision it.
It's believed Olivia has already started shooting for the next series, but it won't hit screens through the streaming service until 2019, according to the Mail Online.
The first instalment proved a huge hit with viewers - with Claire winning a Golden Globe for her portrait of Elizabeth II in the first ten episodes - and it's thought the second will be equally as successful when it airs at the end of the year.
Although fans are no doubt devastated to see the 33-year-old beauty leave, it has always been clear from the start that another actress would be contracted to play Her Majesty from her 40s through to her 60s in series three and four.
Speaking recently: "This is the last stint, it's over, I'm done.
"I always knew it was only going to be two series and then part would be reincarnated and someone else takes over. That's the nature of the part."
But Claire isn't the only one leaving the cast, as Matt Smith - who played Prince Philip - is also being replaced with an older actor for the next chapter.
It's not yet known who has been chosen to play the queen's spouse.
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