‘Downton Abbey’ to return with a movie sequel for release this Christmas

Downton Abbey is coming back to the big screen! 

The production started last week with Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Imelda Staunton, and Maggie Smith as its lead stars. Joining the original cast are Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye, and Dominic West.

The screenplay will be written and produced again by Julian Fellowes as well as Emmy winners Gareth Neame and Liz Trubridge.

“After a very challenging year with so many of us separated from family and friends, it is a huge comfort to think that better times are ahead and that next Christmas we will be re-united with the much beloved characters of Downton Abbey,” said Neame, its producer and executive chairman. 

For his part, Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski said they “can’t imagine a better gift than getting to reunite with Julian, Gareth, and the entire Downton family in 2021 to bring the Crawley’s back home for their fans.” 

The first Downton Abbey film hit the theaters in September 2019, pulling in almost $97 million at the domestic box office. The movie, which has become Focus Features’ highest-grossing project to date, shows “the elite Crawley family thrown into a dilemma when they realize they’re going to need much more help when the King and Queen announce they’re making a visit to the estate and nearby town,” according to PEOPLE. 

The Simon Curtis-directed sequel is set for a Dec. 22 release this year.

Article thumbnails from Downton Abbey's Instagram page