Imelda Staunton, Geraldine James & more join cast of Downton Abbey movie

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

It's been over two years since Downton Abbey came to a close after six-seasons, but we haven't seen the last of the Crawley family (and their domestic servants) as the long-rumoured feature film was finally confirmed last month. The original cast, including Hugh Bonneville, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, and more, are all slated to return, and Focus Features and Carnival Films announced today that principle photography on the DOWNTON ABBEY film is due to begin.

In a statement, Carnival’s Executive Chairman and producer Gareth Neame said, "We are excited that photography is about to start on the long awaited film and that the beloved main characters will be joined by such exceptional actors playing new roles unique to the movie." Included in the announcement of the DOWNTON ABBEY movie was the reveal of a few of the actors who will be joining the Crawley family on the big-screen, such as Imelda Staunton (VERA DRAKE), Geraldine James (SHERLOCK HOLMES), Simon Jones (THE HITCHHIKERS GUIDE TO THE GALAXY), David Haig (Killing Eve), Tuppence Middleton (THE CURRENT WAR), Kate Phillips (Peaky Blinders), Stephen Campbell Moore (GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN), and more. The DOWNTON ABBEY film was slated to be directed by Brian Percival (THE BOOK THIEF), who directed the very first episode of the series, but the press-release notes that he will now serve as executive-producer and that Michael Engler (Six Feet Under) will be directing from a screenplay written by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes.

Despite my enjoyment of the Downton Abbey TV series, I still haven't gotten around to watching the final season of the show. Here's hoping that I didn't miss any extraordinary plot developments, character deaths, or surprise twists. Perhaps I'd better catch up before the DOWNTON ABBEY movie arrives. Fetch the tea, Carson!