Netflix’s first UK original series is about the Queen

It’s been rumored for months, but Netflix has finally confirmed that it’s working on its first original TV series from the UK. Given its origins, it should come as no surprise that the show is about none other than the Queen, exploring her relationships with some of Britain’s most infamous Prime Ministers. Whether this heralds a future of possible UK-specific shows on the weather and crumpets remains to be seen, but what we do know is that it’s called The Crown and will be based on a West End play called The Audience.

Nearly six months after Netflix eyed a royal drama The Crown, the streaming service is moving forward with the drama series. Netflix announced late Wednesday that it has handed out a 10-episode series commitment to The Crown, from Academy Award nominees Peter Morgan (The Queen, Frost/Nixon) and Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot, The Hours) and inspired by the play The Audience. The play, which bowed in 2013, centers on the weekly audiences given by Queen Elizabeth II to prime ministers that date back from her accession in 1952 to the present day. Helen Mirren starred as Queen Elizabeth II, marking her second time in the role after she won the Oscar for the part in Morgan’s 2006 feature The Queen.