Many publications are reporting that Imelda Staunton is set to take over from Olivia Colman in The Crown Season 5. That’s not confirmed yet!

Honestly, it really is a little early to start talking about The Crown Season 5. The third season only just dropped on Netflix last weekend and the fourth season is only just in production. But there are currently rumors circulating that Imelda Staunton will take over from Olivia Colman in the lead role.

You’ll know Staunton best for her role of Dolores Umbridge in Harry Potter, but she’s also been spotted in the Downton Abbey and Maleficent movies recently. She’s an excellent actress and one I could see playing Queen Elizabeth, but it is off talking about it when there’s still another season to go with Colman in the role.

Well, it turns out Netflix isn’t ready to talk about this, either. According to Variety, Netflix was quick to dispute the rumors, making it clear that they are just rumors right now. The Crown Season 5 hasn’t even been commissioned by the streaming service yet!

Sure, showrunner and creator Peter Morgan wants to have six seasons of the series focused on the British Royal Family, but the streamer has only confirmed through to Season 4 right now. That season is currently in production and will be here either at the end of next year or during 2021.

Harry Potter: The Complete 8-Film CollectionHopefully, confirmation for the fifth season will happen sometime during the early part of next year. This would be helpful to start the official search for the new actors taking on the role. After all, Morgan knows that he wants to change the actors again instead of using makeup and graphics to age the characters. We know that a new set of cast members is coming.

But, talks for the fifth and sixth seasons have to happen first. If the viewership for Seasons 3 and 4 drop considerably, Netflix isn’t going to want to spend the money on more seasons, regardless of what the initial plan was. There’s no point lining up a cast just yet. Okay, yes, there would be a need to start thinking about it, but actually starting talks because the commission of more seasons is ridiculous!

More: Netflix Originals coming out in November 2019

Maybe Staunton will take on the role. I’ll be excited if it happens, but please can we stick to the facts we know right now? Deadline says a “source” confirms it but there is no mention of who that “source” is. Deadline has a bad habit of the “I hear” stories. I’ll wait until Netflix confirms something first, and Netflix says The Crown Season 5 casting talks are rumors.

Who would you like to see play Queen Elizabeth in The Crown Seasons 5 and 6? What have you thought of Season 3? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

The Crown Seasons 1-3 are now available on Netflix.