Fans of elegant production design, gorgeous costumes, sharp tongues and stirring drama rejoice, for the acclaimed show DOWNTON ABBEY will officially live on as a feature film. The impressive ensemble cast for the show – Hugh Bonneville, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, to name a few – will be returning for the movie from Focus Features and Carnival Films, with show creator Julian Fellowes writing the script and producing, and pilot director Brian Percival returning to direct.
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The U.K. series has an immense following all around the world and ran for six seasons and 52 episodes, earning three Golden Globes and 15 Emmys (and 69 nominations) along the way. The show follows the wealthy, aristocratic Crawley family, as well as the servants who work in their massive home, as the events of the world affect their lives and the English social hierarchy as a whole.
"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,” said Gareth Neame, Carnival’s Executive Chairman and producer of the film. “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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There is no word yet on a release date, but production is set to start later this summer, which means a 2019 release is probably in the cards. The show remains incredibly popular even after it concluded, so this is great news for all those fans out there who are wondering what’s next for the Crawley family. I know I feel much fancier already just talking about it.