Courtesy of © Carnival Film and Television Limited for MASTERPIECE(LONDON) — Lords and ladies rejoice! Downtown Abbey is returning as a movie, with its original cast set to reprise their roles in the period piece.
“Welcome back to Downton,” the series’ Twitter account posted, along with a picture of a butler holding a letter that reads, “We cordially invite you to return to Downton Abbey. Only in cinemas.” Production is scheduled to begin “this summer,” the tweet declares.
After the series ended in 2015 with six successful seasons broadcast to over 160 countries, show creator Julian Fellowes wrote a screenplay for the upcoming movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“When the television series drew to a close it was our dream to bring the millions of global fans a movie, and now, after getting many stars aligned, we are shortly to go into production. Julian’s script charms, thrills and entertains and in Brian Percival’s hands we aim to deliver everything that one would hope for as Downton comes to the big screen,” producer Gareth Neame said in a statement.
While producers are still mum about plot details, it’s clear the original cast of Crawleys will return, including Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville, Maggie Smith and Joanne Froggatt, according to Entertainment Weekly.
With 69 total, Downton Abbey holds the record for the most Emmy nominations for a show not made in the United States.
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