Downtown Abbey bosses confirm release date for movie sequel
Fans don't have long to wait!
Last updated 19th Apr 2021
Following the mammoth success of the TV series Downtown Abbey, fans were over the moon back in 2019, when creators of the show created a Downtown Abbey movie!
After the first movie grossed $194 million worldwide, a sequel is now in the works, and it is going to be ready for release at Christmas.
Bosses confirmed the exciting news today (Monday 19th April), writing on Twitter, 'We're thrilled to announce that Julian Fellowes and the entire Downton cast are back for #DowntonAbbey2, with Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye and Dominic West joining!
'See the film in theaters this Christmas.' (sic)
According to reports from the Mirror last month, bosses are keen to begin filming for the sequel in June, as the Government plan to ease current lockdown rules, with the luxury Highclere Castle in Berkshire also available for filming in early Summer.
A source told the publication, “Everyone is hoping the June 21 date for the end of the pandemic holds. The crew dates are being fixed and the team are going into prep for a summer shoot.
"The plan is to turn it around quickly and release the film as a festive treat in December."
Check out the best comfort TV shows to watch in lockdown:
Married At First Sight Australia (All 4)
Although the UK version of Married At First Sight is brilliant, the Australian series takes the drama to the next level! You can watch series 4-9 on All 4 now.
If that's not enough, you can also watch MAFS UK, USA and New Zealand on All 4.
Ru Paul’s Drag Race (BBC iPlayer)
With series 4 airing, you can binge all of series 1, 2 and 3 right now on BBC iPlayer.
The Great British Bake Off (All 4)
Fancy reliving some of the best GBBO episodes? Series 1-5 of is available now on All 4. You can also catch up on weekly episodes of series 6.
The Durrells (ITV Hub)
Series 3 and 4 of ITV's British comedy-drama The Durrells is available to watch now on the ITV Hub.
Call the Midwife (BBC iPlayer)
You can watch series 1-11 of Call the Midwife, as well as some Christmas specials, on BBC iPlayer right now.
The Repair Shop
You can watch series 4-10 of The Repair Shop on BBC iPlayer, with experts Jay Blades, Suzie Fletcher, Steve Fletcher, Will Kirk, Kirsten Ramsay and Dominic Chinea.
The Simpsons (All 4)
A classic that never fails to cheer anybody up! The Simpsons is available on All 4.
Sherlock (BBC iPlayer)
If you missed it the first time around, series 1-4 of crime drama Sherlock, featuring Benedict Cumberbatch, are available now on the BBC iPlayer.
First Dates (All 4)
Fancy some love in your life? Join some singletons at Fred Sirieix's First Dates restaurant, with series 1-19 available on All 4.
First Dates Hotel and Teen First Dates are also available to watch.
Our Yorkshire Farm
Follow the lives of Amanda and Clive Owen and their nine children as they work and live on their sheep farm in Swaledale. Series 1-5 are available on MY5.
The Vicar of Dibley (BBC iPlayer)
Series 1-3, as well as the 2004 and 2006 Christmas specials are available to watch on the BBC iPlayer. The special 'lockdown' episode, which aired in December 2020, is also available for fans to catch up.
Taskmaster (All 4)
Series 1-13 of BAFTA-award winning game show Taskmaster, hosted by Greg Davies, are also available on All 4 right now.
MasterChef
Let your mouth water as Gregg Wallace and John Torode try and find the next MasterChef. As well as a number of celebrity series, you can watch series 15-18 of MasterChef on the BBC iPlayer.
You can also watch episodes of Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef Australia.
The Downton Abbey TV series came to a dramatic end in 2015 after a massive 52 episodes on ITV.
Just one year later, bosses revealed a movie adaptation was in the works, with popular cast members Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael and Maggie Smith all appearing in the movie.
Following the success of the first movie worldwide, creator Julian Fellowes quickly expressed his ideas about a sequel, and now it sounds like we don't have long to wait until it arrives!
In 2020, actor Jim Carter spoke to Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on This Morning, saying, "If you promise not to tell anyone, I’ll let you know that we’ve seen a script. The script for a second film is there. We’ve seen it, it’s very funny!
"It’s got all the same characters in, all the regular characters, and I think the will is - Covid willing - we’ll film it next year. I don't know if I can trust Phillip to keep this secret, but Holly, I know I can trust you!"
Now read:
Downton Abbey's Jim Carter confirms a second film is in the works
No Time To Die has release date delayed again
The best TV crime dramas to binge watch right now