Two Netflix shows focused on the royals are set to start production of their latest seasons sometime this year. However, Bridgerton could clash schedules with The Crown if they plan on filming in the same locations.
According to Daily Mirror, both Netflix drama series make use of the Somerley Estate, located in Hampshire, and the Wilton House, located in Wiltshire, as its filming sets.
Somerly Estate stands in as Highgrove House, Prince Charles' country home, in The Crown. In Bridgerton, it serves as the country house of one of the aristocrats.
Wilton House, on the other hand, is used as the home of the Duke of Hastings in Bridgerton. The same building doubles as Buckingham Palace in The Crown.
A spokesperson from Netflix said that clashes in location shoots aren't a problem at this time since the shows haven't actually started filming. The producers of The Crown could start work on season 5 by the summer but the schedule has not yet been set in stone.
Barring social distancing and safety protocols, the decision to film will actually lie with the production companies and not with Netflix. However, since both shows are streaming on the platform, the insider said that Netflix executives are keen to sort everything out and avoid further delays.
But prior to the pandemic, the producers of The Crown apparently planned a long pause before going back to the set again. According to Deadline, this was always in the plan but the lockdowns in the United Kingdom helped in facilitating the hiatus.
Bridgerton, meanwhile, managed to wrap up filming the first season before the COVID-19 lockdowns in early 2020. After the show's debut in December, the cast and crew were still waiting on the green light for the second season, which was finally confirmed on Jan. 21, 2021.
Fans of both shows, however, think that Netflix will favor Bridgerton more if a clash in schedule does ensue because of its status as the most-watched series on the streaming platform. According to reports, 82 million households have streamed the period drama since its' debut.
Netflix viewers have been eager for a second season ever since the show wrapped up. Bridgerton season 2 will reportedly focus on the love life of the eldest son, Viscount Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), since this is the sequence in the book series by Julia Quinn.
The Crown season 5, on the other hand, will shift to the decade about Princess Diana's death. However, some fans might not be looking forward to recalling this tragic part of the royal family's history.
