'Downton Abbey 3' Confirmed: Find Out Who's Been Cast

Laura Carmichael as Lady Edith Crawley, Elizabeth McGovern as Cora, Countess of Grantham and Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley

A return to Downton is officially in our future!

A third Downton Abbey movie, written by series creator Julian Fellowes and directed by Simon Curtis, was announced by Focus Features and Carnival Films on May 13. A video of members of the cast accompanied the exciting news with Michelle Dockery, who plays Lady Mary, saying: "It feels amazing. A tad emotional."

"It's wonderful all to be back together again," she continued. "You come back together and it's like no time has passed at all."

According to a press release, the third movie will feature "exciting new additions" and "many other fan favorites."

Before the Crawleys and their staff welcome us back to Downton, here is everything to know about Downton Abbey 3, including the latest casting news.

What is the Downton Abbey 3 release date?

A release date has not yet been announced for the motion picture event, but Dockery revealed in the announcement on May 13 that they were in production for the third movie, adding: "We can't wait to see you."

Related: 7 Questions For Downton Abbey Creator Julian Fellowes

How to watch Downton Abbey 3?

The movie is expected to be a theatrical release.

Who is cast in Downton Abbey 3?

The following cast members are set to reprise their roles for the third movie:

Hugh Bonneville as Robert Crawley

Elizabeth McGovern as Cora Crawley

Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley

Laura Carmichael as Lady Edith Crawley

Jim Carter as Charles Carlson

Phyllis Logan as Mrs. Hughes

Robert James-Collier as Thomas Barrow

Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates

Allen Leech as Tom Branson

Penelope Wilton as Isobel Crawley

Lesley Nicol as Mrs. Patmore

Michael Fox as Andy

Raquel Cassidy as Baxter

Brendan Coyle as John Bates

Kevin Doyle as Joseph Molesley

Harry Hadden-Paton as Bertie Pelham

Sophie McShera as Daisey Mason

Douglas Reith as Lord Merton

New additions to the film's cast include Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola, Simon Russell Beale and Arty Froushan.

Downton Abbey 3 will also see the return of Paul Giamatti as Cora Grantham’s brother Harold Levinson and Dominic West as Guy Dexter, who was introduced in the second film, Downton Abbey: A New Era.

Will Maggie Smith be in Downton Abbey 3?

While it's hard to imagine Downton Abbey without Violet Crawley, Maggie Smith's beloved character died in the second film. Smith was not listed among the returning cast members in the press release announcing the third movie, but we're crossing our fingers for a flashback!

On the announcement on Instagram, one social media user commented: "The dowager countess won't be there tho😢." Another wrote: "Cannot imagine it without violet."

Related: Maggie Smith’s Top 20 Downton Abbey Quotes: ‘What Is a Weekend?’

What will happen in Downton Abbey 3?

Details about what will happen in the new movie have yet to be revealed. Fans will recall that the second film, Downton Abbey: A New Era, ended with Violet's death and the "Downton torch" being passed to her granddaughter Lady Mary.

What does Downton Abbey 3 have to do with the rumored seventh season?

Months before the third movie was officially announced, the Daily Mail reported that the period drama, which ran for six seasons before coming to an end in 2015, was making a "surprise comeback in a seventh series." A cast member later confirmed that a third movie was in the works, suggesting that the rumors of a seventh season were misguided.

Will there be a Downton Abbey 4?

Only time will tell, but Imelda Staunton, who played Maud Bagshaw in the first two movies, confirmed a third film in March 2024 to BBC Radio 2 breakfast show host Zoe Ball (via Deadline), referring to it as a "final film."

Next, Downton Abbey A to Z: An Obsessive Guide to the Show’s Secrets