A Third Downton Abbey Movie Is Officially Happening

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A third Downton Abbey movie is officially in the works.

Actress Imelda Staunton, who played Queen Mary’s lady-in-waiting, Lady Maud Bagshaw, in the first two movies confirmed the exciting news in March of 2024. “There will be the final film—there you go,” Staunton said in an interview with BBC Radio 2 breakfast show host Zoe Ball.

Rumors about another chapter in the Crawley family's story have swirled since the second film premiered in 2022. "Honestly, I thought the fifth was the last series," creator Julian Fellowes told Town & Country at the time, when asked about the possibility of additional sequels. "Then I thought the sixth was the end of them. Then I thought the first movie was the goodbye. Who knows?"

The Downton Abbey creator continued, "If there's a big demand and everyone wants them back, I suppose I certainly wouldn't say no, because I've long since come to terms with the fact that, when I die, Downton will be the main item in any article about me going. So I might as well continue the ride for as long as it goes. But I don't know. I think it's an audience decision, really."

Now, Fellowes is set to write a third film. Here's everything we know so far about Downton Abbey 3.

Key Downton Abbey cast will return.

Set to return include Elizabeth McGovern, Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Phyllis Logan, Robert James-Collier, Joanne Froggatt, Allen Leech, Penelope Wilton, Lesley Nicol, Michael Fox, Raquel Cassidy, Brendan Coyle, Kevin Doyle, Harry Hadden-Paton, Sophie McShera, and Douglas Reith.

Over the years, members of the cast have been asked if they would return to their roles for another project, and they have all been optimistic. "I never say never because I’m an internal optimist," Lesley Nicol, who plays Mrs. Patmore, told Town & Country in 2022. "I have nothing to back this up, but I wouldn’t be talking out of turn if I didn’t say I’m sure the cast would be very happy to do more." Nicol continued, "This is the real world, and we have to see if people will come out to the movie theaters and see this film. They did last time, but I just don’t know because the world has changed."

Joanne Froggart, who portrays Anna Bates, agrees with Nichols, telling Digital Spy, "I think if Julian still wants to write it and the audience still want to watch it, I think we'd all be very keen." Elizabeth McGovern, who portrays Cora Crawley, also said: "I always say I'll read the script."

For James Collier, who plays Downton's butler Barrow, he doesn't care if the audience watches or not: he wants a third movie. "I’d definitely be up for it! Even if nobody watched this one, we’d say ‘sod you lot, we’re making a third one anyway!'" Collier told Yahoo. He would still be interested in a Downton threequel, even though his character left Downton at the end of the second film to travel with Guy Dexter (Dominic West).

There will be some fresh faces as well.

Paul Giamatti will reprise his role from the series as Cora's brother Harold, and Dominic West will reprise his role as Guy Dexter from the second Downton film. Actors Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola, Simon Russell Beale, and Arty Froushan are all joining in as yet unspecified roles.

Simon Curtis will direct.

Curtis, who directed the sequel film, previously said he'll have to wait and see before committing whole-heartedly to another Downton project. "I'd certainly be interested in reading it," he previously told T&C, "but I don't know. There's no argument for it and no argument against it. It's all in the mind of Julian Fellowes. He always seems to pull some rabbit out of all the hats, you know, he's such a wonderful writer. And so, I think for all of us, including me, it's a wait and see."

We'll update this story as soon as we learn more. Downton Abbey: A New Era is currently available to stream on demand. The film hits Blu-ray and DVD on July 5 with a special collector's edition that includes bonus content. A gift set, which includes the Blue-Ray + DVD as well as vintage postcards, a photobook, and other collectibles is available here.

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