The 'Downton Abbey' Movie Is Going to Involve a Royal Visit
Downton Abbey fans have been begging for a reboot ever since the show's six-season run ended back in December 2015. Three years later, the IRL estate of Highclere Castle is officially headed to the silver screen. The Downton Abbey movie will premiere next fall, and while the details of the film's plot are being kept under wraps for now, it looks like the project will bring most of your favorite characters back to Downton. Ahead, everything we know so far about Downton Abbey the movie.
The film will hit theaters in September.
The Downton Abbey movie (which has yet to be given an official title) is being produced by Focus Features and will hit theaters on September 20, 2019 in North America.
Who's in the cast?
EW confirmed with the film's producers that the original principal cast will return to the abbey once more for the show's silver screen debut. Michelle Dockery will reprise her role as Lady Mary Crawley, Hugh Bonneville will return to play Robert Crawley, and Maggie Smith will offer even more of her beloved backhanded compliments as Violet Crawley. Joanne Froggatt, who played lady's maid Anna Bates, also will return; she tweeted about the project in July 2018.
[twitter align='center' id='1017759318270234624' username='JoFroggatt']https://twitter.com/JoFroggatt/status/1017759318270234624[/twitter
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again star Lily James won't be returning to Downton to play Lady Rose MacClare, though. James told People: "My character Rose moved off to New York, so it would be farfetched to bring her back," adding, "I would have loved to have come back for a scene, but for a movie it can’t be like a Christmas special and it needs to be a focused storyline. There was no space for Rose.”
When will it take place, and what's the plot?
The trailer was screened at CinemaCon in April, and Variety reported that the film will have a very high-stakes theme: a royal visit. Set in 1927, the movie will see King George V and Queen Mary visiting the family’s estate. Unfortunately, this causes quite a bit of anguish for the Crawleys, because the family has downsized its staff, and the household just isn't sure how they'll be able to cater for such distinguished guests. But never fear-Carson is here, or he will be; his old employers ask him to return for the occasion.
As always with Downton, historical context is important. Coming almost a decade after World War I, and with the Great Depression's effects soon to hit, the movie's events will certainly show how the Crawleys and their staff are dealing with big economic and cultural changes. According to Variety, more domestic changes are in the air, too, with Lady Mary Crawley considering leaving the estate for a new life. It might just come down to Anna Bates, her maid, to persuade her mistress to keep the traditions and influence of Downton intact.
And...we’re off 🎬@downtonabbey_official
A post shared by Michelle Dockery (@theladydockers) on Sep 10, 2018 at 9:01am PDT
The show's creator is writing the script for the film.
Julian Fellowes, the show's creator, has written the screenplay and will co-produce alongside Gareth Neame and Liz Trubridge.
“When the television series drew to a close it was our dream to bring the millions of global fans a movie and now, after getting many stars aligned, we are shortly to go into production," Neame said in a statement. "Julian’s script charms, thrills, and entertains and in Brian Percival’s hands we aim to deliver everything that one would hope for as Downton comes to the big screen.”
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