Downton Abbey fans will be excited to know that their favourite characters are returning to the big screen once more! On Monday, it was announced that the theatrical film based on the beloved period series is getting a sequel, which also has some exciting new names attached to the franchise!
Downton Abbey sequel sees "entire Downton cast" returning
Downton Abbey originally began in 2010, running for six seasons on British channel ITV. The show garnered a massive fan following, which eventually led to its return with a feature film of the same name. The film was released in September 2019, and show creator Julian Followes mentioned in 2020 that a sequel was in the works.
The exciting news was shared via the official Downton Abbey social media accounts. According to the announcement, the screenplay will once again be penned by Followes, with "the entire Downton cast" set to return for the second installment! This includes names like Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville, Maggie Smith, and Imelda Staunton.
Downton Abbey filming this year with Christmas release
Downton Abbey has also tapped several major stars to join the franchise for its second big-screen outing. Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye, and Dominic West have all been confirmed to be on board for the film's sequel. It's not yet known what their roles will be, but details are likely to emerge in the coming months!
That's because the statement also mentions that the film will be hitting theatres this Christmas, and as People mentions, it's currently slated to begin production later in April. For Downton Abbey enthusiasts, there couldn't be a better Christmas gift than seeing the "Crawley" family return!