The Crawley family is headed to the big screen, as the long-rumored Downton Abbey movie is officially a go.
Per Instagram, producers behind the series have earmarked a summer start date, when most, if not all of the original cast – Dame Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery and Hugh Bonneville included – will be making their return.
Series creator Julian Fellowes is the brains behind the film’s script, and we understand he’ll co-produce this period drama alongside Gareth Neame and Liz Trubridge. Plot details are practically non-existent at this early stage of the creative process, but Downton fans can rest assured that, yes, one of TV’s greatest ever dramas is about to receive the send-off it deserves.
Here’s the latest from Michelle Dockery’s personal Instagram feed, who has agreed to reprise her role as Lady Mary Crawley.
The secret’s out… Thrilled to announce that #DowntonAbbey is coming to the big screen. Filming to commence this summer.
Over on Twitter, the official Downton Abbey account confirmed the news, too, so it seems that after all these years, there are still more stories to be told about the Crawley dynasty.
The show’s finale initially aired back in December of 2015, and ever since, talk of a full-blown movie has gained more and more momentum, eventually leading us to the point of ITV’s announcement. Brian Percival, whose credits include The Book Thief and About A Girl and who directed the series’ pilot, will helm the feature film.
Welcome back to Downton! We’re thrilled to announce that #DowntonAbbey is coming to the big screen. Film production begins this summer. pic.twitter.com/3scMUmosic
— Downton Abbey (@DowntonAbbey) July 13, 2018
The cast and crew of Downton Abbey will cordially invite moviegoers to theaters all across the globe when Julian Fellowes’ film makes its debut. Exactly when we can expect this long-in-development movie to grace our screens is another question entirely, but a late 2019 release appears to be the safe bet.
