Everything to Know About the Third “Downton Abbey ”Movie Starring Paul Giamatti
‘Downton Abbey’ will return for a third movie spin off from the television series of the same name
Downton Abbey is back!
After a successful run from 2010 to 2015, the beloved show had two movie spinoffs: 2019’s Downton Abbey and 2022’s Downton Abbey: A New Era. Now, it’s back again, with a third installation confirmed in May 2024.
The TV series and movies follow the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in the early 20th-century United Kingdom. The story starts with the 1912 sinking of the Titanic, leaving Downton Abbey’s future in jeopardy as the owner, Robert Crawley, 7th Earl of Grantham, seeks a new heir.
The news of the new movie was announced by Focus Features and Carnival Films with a sweet video on Instagram of the cast reuniting on set. Michelle Dockery, who will reprise her role as Lady Mary, shared that the ensemble of actors was thrilled to come back together and work on a new story once again.
Related: 'Downton Abbey' Cast: Where Are They Now?
"It feels amazing. A tad emotional," she said in the video. "It's wonderful all to be back together again. You come back together, and it's like no time has passed at all."
From who is returning to who will helm the film, here’s everything to know about the third Downton Abbey movie so far.
Who is in the cast of the third Downton Abbey movie?
According to the official release, much of the main cast will return to the big screen in the third film, including Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola, Simon Russell Beale and Arty Froushan. Notably, recent Academy Award nominee Paul Giamatti will also reprise his role as Cora Grantham’s brother, Harold Levinson.
Dominic West will also return to the cast as Guy Dexter, whom he played in the previous installment, Downton Abbey: A New Era.
Where did Downton Abbey: A New Era leave off?
The last installment in the Downton Abbey franchise left off with the death of a beloved character, Lady Violet, whose secret relationship with a Marquis in the South of France was explored by her family.
Meanwhile, Lady Mary, Violet’s granddaughter, entertained her own romantic relationships, lamenting the absence of her husband, Henry Talbot, and starting an affair with the director Jack Barber, who is filming a movie in her home.
Some of the home’s servants also find themselves in exciting romances, including a proposal from Mr. Molesly to Phyllis Baxter. In more somber news, Barrow announces he will leave his position as Downton Abbey’s butler.
Who is directing Downton Abbey 3?
Downton Abbey 3 will be helmed by the same director as the previous film, Simon Curtis, and is written by Julian Fellowes, who originated the series and wrote the first two movies.
The show Downton Abbey was known for having many storylines going on at once, and the same energy was carried into the movies — making Curtis’ job more difficult and focused on how to bring each story to life, he told Forbes in 2022 ahead of The New Era premiere.
“Warmth, humanity and emotion,” he told the outlet of the three things he considered to be essential for a Downton story. “I always look for moments, the beats and the emotion of this scene.”
He continued, “Some are directors thinking, ‘Oh, what is the lens I can use? What’s the shot?’ I’m thinking, ‘What are the human beings in this room doing?’ 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.”
What has the cast said about returning to Downton Abbey?
Before the news of the third movie was confirmed, one of the actors, Imelda Staunton, already teased that it was in the works in March 2024.
"There will be the final film — there you go," she said on BBC Radio 2.
"Wow, that’s pretty huge. I hope we haven’t got you in trouble," host Zoe Ball joked, to which Staunton replied, “I don’t care.”
Where can you watch Downton Abbey and the spinoff movies?
All six seasons of Downton Abbey are available on Peacock and Amazon Prime Video. The 2019 movie is available to stream on Netflix, while the second film, A New Era, is not yet available for streaming.
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