‘Downton Abbey’ Cast Reunites as Fans Await Third Film

The cast of Downton Abbey is offering fans a delightful surprise as they wait for the release of their third film.

On Thursday, July 18, Sophie McShera (Daisy), Phyllis Logan (Mrs. Carson), Jim Carter (Carson), and Lesley Nicol (Mrs. Patmore) gathered for a photo opportunity at the opening night of Hello, Dolly! at the London Palladium in England. They were joined by Carter’s daughter, Bessie, known to fans as Prudence Featherington from Bridgerton.

The award-winning play will run for a limited summer session, ending on September 14.

While walking the red carpet, the stars of the British historical drama series seemed in high spirits, ahead of their next big project.

In May 2024, it was confirmed that a third film spin-off will follow 2019’s Downton Abbey and 2022’s Downton Abbey: A New Era.

Downton Abbey, the series, premiered in 2010 and aired for six seasons before concluding in 2015.

Set in the aftermath of the Titanic sinking in 1912, the series immerses viewers in the lives of the United Kingdom’s aristocratic Crawley family and their servants, spanning until 1926. The first two films followed the storylines of 1927 and 1928.

“It’s wonderful to be back together again. You come back together and it’s like no time has passed at all,” Michelle Dockery, who plays Lady Mary in the franchise, said during a video announcement. The actress mentioned that the reunion was “a tad emotional.”

Fan favorites such as Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, and Laura Carmichael are returning. They will be joined by newcomers Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola, Simon Russell Beale, and Arty Froushan.

It has also been revealed that Paul Giamatti will reprise his role as Cora Grantham’s brother, Harold Levinson. Additionally, Dominic West will return as Guy Dexter from Downton Abbey: A New Era.

The upcoming film will also see the return of Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes as the writer. Simon Curtis will also comeback as the director.

Speaking to Forbes before the second Downton Abbey film, Curtis emphasized the importance of “warmth, humanity and emotion” in every storyline. He noted, “Some directors think, ‘Oh, what is the lens I can use? What’s the shot?’ I’m thinking, ‘What are the human beings in this room doing?’” He added, “For that reason, I’m very drawn to Julian Fellowes’ writing. I think this film is a masterclass in writing 20-plus storylines satisfying for the audience and the actors.”

All six seasons of Downton Abbey are available on Peacock and Amazon Prime Video. The 2019 movie is available to stream on Netflix, while A New Era is available on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.

Source: PEOPLE, Forbes