The Crown may have found its second, and last, Prince Charles. And if these casting rumours turn out to be true then it could be a case of art imitating life. Or is that life imitating art, imitating life?Anyhow, Dominic West (of
The Affair and
The Wire), who was
recently spotted snuggling co-star Lily James in Italy though married to Catherine FitzGerald, is supposedly ThisClose to officially landing the role of Prince Charles in
The Crown’s final two seasons. Coincidentally, that would mean he’d play the royal figure during a period of history where Charles was having an affair with Camilla Parker Bowles while still married to Princess Diana (for the record: we don't have the full story on the Lily/Dominic/Catherine business so we're withholding judgement on just how similar the two situations are).
According to Variety the deal hasn’t been inked just yet, but West is in late-stage discussions with the series for the gig. Currently the character is played by Josh O’Connor (
God’s Own Country), but the show has always recast actors as the story progresses throughout history. If West is confirmed for the role he’ll play opposite
Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana, Imelda Staunton as the new Queen Elizabeth II, Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret, and
Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip.The news of West potentially joining the scripted drama makes headlines about a month before the Netflix series’ anticipated
fourth season debut. In it, viewers will be introduced to Princess Diana (
played by Emma Corrin) as the storyline heads into the 1980s. Meanwhile, the fifth and sixth seasons, which wrap this particular take on Queen Elizabeth and her reign, take place in the 1990s and 2000s, and covers Diana’s tragic 1997 death.[video_embed id='2054243']RELATED: Lily James and married Dominic West caught kissing [/video_embed]North American audiences are familiar with 50-year-old West as
The Wire’s rule-breaking Det. Jimmy McNulty, and more recently as
The Affair’s adulterous Noah Solloway. But across the pond, the Yorkshire actor has also been a British TV and film staple for years. Most recently he starred in the miniseries
Les Misérables as Jean Valjean, and he also had a role in the sweeping international drama
Stateless. He’s currently filming
The Pursuit of Love, based on the 1945 novel by Nancy Mitford, alongside 31-year-old James. (They play a father-daughter duo.) Oddly enough, James previously dated Matt Smith, who starred as Prince Philip in the first two seasons of
The Crown.Since being spotted with James, West and his wife Catherine FitzGerald are maintaining a united front. After the initial pictures of West and James were published last week, West and his wife posed for photos together outside of their Wiltshire, England home and handed a note to reporters that read, “Our marriage is strong and we’re very much still together. Thank you.” Since then,
more photos of James and West have surfaced, this time from the airport during their trip home.Now if only West would pass out a note confirming or denying this Prince Charles stuff. Because royal watchers everywhere are dying to know.[video_embed id='2059207']RELATED: Lily James lays low following release of Dominic West photos[/video_embed]
