:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(759x292:761x294)/Lesley-Nicol-Jim-Carter-Sophie-McShera-tout-071824-f639baa1aeb94e0e896455b78b1552eb.jpg "‘Downton Abbey’ Casts Reunites As Fans Anticipate Third Film")
The cast of Downton Abbey are giving fans a special treat to hold them over until the release of their third film!
On Thursday, July 18, Sophie McShera (Daisy), Phyllis Logan (Mrs. Carson), Jim Carter (Carson) and Lesley Nicol (Mrs. Patmore) gathered for a photo op at the opening night of Hello, Dolly! at the London Palladium in London, England. They were joined by Carter’s daughter Bessie, whom fans will recognize as Prudence Featherington from Bridgerton.
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The award-winning play is showing for a limited summer session, and runs through Sept. 14.
While on the red carpet for the event, the stars of the British historical drama series were all smiles ahead of their next big project.
In May 2024, it was confirmed that a third film spin-off would follow 2019’s Downton Abbey and 2022’s Downton Abbey: A New Era.
Downton Abbey, the series, premiered in 2010 and aired for six seasons before ending in 2015.
The series begins after the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 and takes viewers into the lives of the United Kingdom’s aristocratic Crawley family, as well as that of their servants, until 1926.
The first two films picked up in 1927 and 1928.
Ben Blackall / Focus Features / Courtesy Everett
“It’s wonderful to be back together again. You come back together and it’s like no time has passed at all,” Michelle Dockery, who portrays Lady Mary in the franchise, said at the time in a video announcement.
In the clip, the cast reunited for the production. The actress, 42, added that the gathering was “a tad emotional.”
Fan favorites like Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Laura Carmichael are also returning, and will be joined by newcomers Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola, Simon Russell Beale and Arty Froushan.
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It was also revealed that Paul Giamatti would be “reprising his role as Cora Grantham’s brother Harold Levinson,” according to a press release, which added, “Dominic West will also reprise his role as Guy Dexter from Downton Abbey: A New Era.”
In addition to the cast, Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes is writing the upcoming film. Simon Curtis will return as a director of the project.
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Speaking to Forbes before the second Downton Abbey film, he said “warmth, humanity and emotion” were three essential factors in any of the installment’s storylines.
“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?’ ” he added. “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.”
All six seasons of Downton Abbey are available on Peacock and Amazon Prime Video. The 2019 movie is available to stream on Netflix, while A New Era is available on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.
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