Downton AbbeyThe third film officially has a release date.
In late June 2024, Focus Features and Universal Pictures International announced that the upcoming follow-up to 2019’s Downton Abbey and its 2022 sequel, Downton Abbey: A New Agewill be released on September 12, 2025.
In May 2024, ET confirmed that the beloved TV series that was turned into a mega-hit movie franchise will move forward with a new script written by the show’s creator, Julian Fellowes, who previously wrote the first two films. BAFTA and Emmy nominee Simon Curtis is also returning to direct after directing 2022 A new era.
According to Focus Features and Carnival Films, the third installment will include the return of fan-favorite characters played by Paulo Giamatti It is The crown actor Dominic West.
Giamatti, 56, plays Harold Levinson – brother of Cora Crawley (Elizabeth McGovern) – who was last seen by fans in Downton Abbey Christmas special at the end of season 4.
Other newcomers include The gentleman stars Joely Richardson, as well as Alessandro Nivola, Simon Russell Beale and Arty Froushan. West, who recently completed his run as Prince Charles on Netflix The crown – a show that earned him and the cast an Emmy nomination in 2023 – reprises his role in the unnamed third Downton Abbey film as Guy Dexter from A new era.
As for the return of the main cast members, virtually all of the series’ original stars are set to return, including Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, 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.
While the long list of names is enough to excite even the most casual of Monastery fans, eagle-eyed fans were quick to notice a few names missing from the docket, including Dame Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton It is Matthew Goode – which notably did not appear in A new era be like Henry Talbot, the husband of Dockery’s character.
Staunton’s absence is especially notable because the 68-year-old Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix actress was the first to break news of a third film. She starred in the first two films as Queen Mary’s lady-in-waiting, Lady Maud Bagshaw.
“There will be the final film. There it is,” Staunton said during a BBC Radio appearance in March.
O BBC Radio show host Zoe Ball, who seemed shocked by the actress’s outspokenness, continued and asked if her talking about another film was something she was allowed to share.
“Wow, this is really big. I hope we didn’t get you in trouble,” Ball said.
“I don’t care,” Staunton replied.
The presentation Downton AbbéThe film ended in 2015 after six seasons, but fans begged the cast and crew to come back for more, resulting in the 2019 and 2022 films.
In March, ET spoke with the show’s former star, Dan Stevens, who reacted to Staunton revealing the details of the third film and why the show – which played in both the US and UK and became a global phenomenon – appears to be as popular as it was while airing.
“As with any show where you’re in people’s living rooms on a Sunday night, you know, people take a special kind of ownership of it,” Stevens said. “In a way, they become part of your family. You sit down, watch it with your mother, your grandmother. A lot of people I know have seen this show, and it really brought families together.”
He added, “We laughed, we cried, but, you know, it’s one of those shows that means a lot to a lot of people… So I’m excited for another movie.”
Before the release of A new era, ET spoke to the castwho expressed interest in returning to early 1900s England for another film.
“It seemed like a very fitting way to end, but the audience has an appetite for it! So this is prompting the writers to come forward,” said Doyle, 64.
“I mean, it seems like there’s an appetite out there,” Dockery, 42, noted. “The public seems to continue wanting to see more Low.”
She added: “I love doing this and I love playing Mary, so we’ll see.”
The third Downton Abbey the film will be released on September 12, 2025.
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