“Downton Abbey 3”'s tribute to Maggie Smith will feel 'more meaningful' following her death

Violet Crawley's death will weigh more heavily in the third Downton Abbey movie following the passing of Maggie Smith this year.

Speaking with TVLine, executive producer Gareth Neame said a forthcoming tribute to the character popularized by Smith will feel all the "more genuine" following the screen icon's real-life death in September at 89. Violet, the matriarch of the Crawley family and the Dowager Countess of Grantham, died in the second film, 2022's A New Era, from an illness.

Related: All of Maggie Smith's best moments in Downton Abbey

“The fact that Dame Maggie herself has now passed away since that time, I do think, has given a real added poignancy to a story that we would have planned anyway," said Neame. “The loss of the Dowager, it now feels far more significant that you see actors playing characters mourning the family matriarch. But I also see actors mourning...and it feels more genuine and more meaningful.”

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Neame called Smith's passing “the end of an era,” adding that “we will never see the like of Dame Maggie Smith ever again." The cast and crew's respect for the star, said Neame, "will come across in the next movie.”

Plot details are being kept under wraps, but the third film is slated for a Sept. 12, 2025 release. Hugh Bonneville, Dominic West, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Phyllis Logan, and Robert James-Collier are among the regulars set to reprise their roles, while newcomers include Paul Giamatti (reprising his role as Harold Levinson from the original TV series), Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola, Simon Russell Beale, and Arty Froushan.

Originally a series, the British historical drama ran for six seasons between 2010 and 2015 on ITV. Smith earned three Emmys, four Screen Actor Guilds, and a Golden Globe her for portrayal of the Dowager. Following her death, series creator Julian Fellowes and stars of the show remembered Smith as "one of the greats."

Related: Harry Potter stars pay tribute to Maggie Smith: 'She kept Gryffindors on their toes'

"Maggie Smith was a truly great actress and we were more than fortunate to be part of the last act in her stellar career," Fellowes said. "She was a joy to write for, subtle, many-layered, intelligent, funny, and heartbreaking. Working with her has been the greatest privilege of my career, and I will never forget her."

“Anyone who ever shared a scene with Maggie will attest to her sharp eye, sharp wit, and formidable talent," added Bonneville. "She was a true legend of her generation and thankfully will live on in so many magnificent screen performances."

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