A musical based on the life of Princess Diana was supposed to premiere on Broadway on March 31, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic production was shut down. The date for the premiere was changed to May 2021 instead, but now Netflix has jumped the gun and announced that it will premiere on their streaming service before then.

Netflix plans on filming the musical, called Diana, without an audience and premiere it later this year. The original cast are all involved in the production, and it will be filmed at the Longacre Theatre in New York. Wicked and American Idiot star Jeanna de Waal stars as Diana, with Roe Hartrampf as Prince Charles, Erin Davie as Camilla Parker Bowles, and two-time Tony Award winner Judy Kaye as Queen Elizabeth. Even though Broadway theatres will remain closed until next year, the producers have worked out a deal with the Actors’ Equity Association to ensure safety protocols are followed. 

In a joint statement, the producers said “We speak for the entire company when we say that we couldn’t be more excited to finally be able share our show with theater lovers everywhere. Though there is no substitute for the live theater, we are honored to be a part of the quality entertainment that Netflix provides its subscribers worldwide.”

Because of this, Diana will be the first ever Broadway production to premiere on the small screen before being seen anywhere else around the world. A date for the premiere has not yet been given.