Tobias Menzies is transforming from sociopath Black Jack Randall into Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh for two seasons on The Crown.
If you’re already missing Tobias Menzies from your Outlander screens, have no fear. The English actor is stepping back into an iconic role, this one portraying a very real person. He’s closed a deal to play Prince Philip on Netflix’s The Crown for the next two seasons.
He’ll take over from Matt Smith, who has already developed the character, spanning a period of 15 years in the last two seasons. Menzies will take the character across the next couple of decades or so, telling the story of Philip during Prince Charles’ relationship with a young Camilla Parker-Bowles and later marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales.
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Not many TV shows make a switch of the lead cast between seasons and succeed. One of the only ones to do it was Roseanne, but they owned that cast member change, making light of it in the episodes. However, Netflix has never held back from the knowledge that there would be a new set of actors taking over the reins of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip (and other characters will change actor, too).
Menzies is the perfect man for such an iconic role. He’s a chameleon when it comes to acting, playing good and bad characters with ease. He’s done the Russian naval officer on Doctor Who, played both Black Jack Randall and Frank Randall on our own Outlander, and is now seen on AMC’s The Terror.
EXCLUSIVE: #TheCrown sets #Outlander’s @TobiasMenzies as new Prince Philip https://t.co/8JJHK3HLpn
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) March 28, 2018
As Menzies takes over Smith in the role of Prince Philip on The Crown, Olivia Coleman will take over from Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II. Rumor is that Helena Bonham Carter will take over from Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret.
Menzies and the new cast members will start filming The Crown Season 3 in the summer. They’ll be around until Season 4 (as long as Netflix picks it up) and then there will be another cast change for the next two seasons.
Next: Could Frank's return work for Outlander Season 4?
Do you watch The Crown? Will you now to see Menzies in the main role? What do you think about this casting decision? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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