London: Netflix has “no plans” to add a disclaimer to “The Crown” stating that its lavish drama about Britain’s royal family members is a work of fiction.
In a statement Saturday, Netflix stated it has often presented the drama, as just that – a drama.
“We have always presented The Crown as a drama – and we have every confidence our members understand it’s a work of fiction that’s broadly based on historical events,” it stated.
“As a result we have no plans – and see no need – to add a disclaimer.” Netflix was urged final week by British Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden to add the disclaimer, in the wake of the broadcast of the drama’s fourth series.
Questions of historical fidelity weren’t a main challenge for the duration of earlier seasons of the show, which debuted in 2016 and traces the lengthy reign of Queen Elizabeth II, which started in 1952.
But the present fourth season is set in the 1980s, a divisive decade in Britain. Characters contain Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, whose 11-year tenure transformed and divided Britain, and the late Princess Diana, whose death in a automobile crash in 1997 transfixed the nation and the globe.
Some Conservatives have criticized the programme’s depiction of Thatcher, played by Gillian Anderson. Britain’s very first female prime minister, who died in 2013, is portrayed as clashing with Olivia Colman’s Elizabeth to an extent that some say is exaggerated.
“The Crown” creator Peter Morgan, whose work also contains current-history dramas “The Queen” and “Frost/Nixon,” has defended his work, saying it is completely researched and correct in spirit.
Charles Spencer, Diana’s brother, was 1 who known as on Netflix to add a disclaimer.
“I think it would help The Crown an enormous amount if, at the beginning of each episode, it stated that, ‘This isn’t true but it is based around some real events,'” he told broadcaster ITV. “I worry people do think that this is gospel and that’s unfair.”