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The highly anticipated Downton Abbey sequel is officially titled Downton Abbey: A New Era. The film is written by Julian Fellowes, creator and writer of the original series and first Downton Abbey movie in 2019, and directed by Simon Curtis (My Week With Marilyn). It will continue the story of the aristocratic Crawley family and their downstairs staff, who were first introduced to viewers in 2010. The critically and commercially-acclaimed Downton Abbey TV series found international success and ran for six seasons before concluding in 2015.
Rumors of a sequel swirled after the first film’s release. Fellowes stated that he already had ideas for the story, and fans were eager to see more of the beloved characters. In early 2021, star Hugh Bonneville confirmed the Downton Abbey sequel would start production once the cast and crew had received their COVID-19 vaccinations. Filming reportedly began a couple of months later. Though there has been much speculation about the potential plot lines of the sequel, further details about the project have been scarce, including hints about what the film’s title would be.
Now, that question has been answered, as the official Downton Abbey Twitter account has revealed the title of the long-awaited sequel as Downton Abbey: A New Era. According to the post, the "entire Downton cast is back” for the new film, with Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye and Dominic West joining on as new characters. It also confirms that, after being delayed from its original December 2021 premiere date, A New Era will now be released on March 18, 2022. According to the post, the film will receive an exclusive theatrical release. Check out the post below:
Click Here to View the Original Post
The title, A New Era, suggests that changes are coming to Downton. This won’t be a surprise to viewers who have witnessed the struggles the Crawley family has already faced in keeping their treasured estate running. England went through tremendous social and political changes during the 1910s and 1920s (the era spanned thus far by Downton Abbey), and the fictional Crawleys have many real-life counterparts who were unable to maintain their way of life. It seems likely that the Crawleys may also have to adapt to the changing times in the upcoming film.
Though nothing is yet known about the plot of the second film installment of Downton Abbey, Fellowes likes to weave historical events into his narratives. It’s possible that the Great Depression, which began in 1929, may figure into the new story. Whatever the future holds for the Crawley family and their staff, fans can look forward to the return of the talented cast, the sumptuous sets and costumes, and Fellowes’ trademark wit (most often deployed through Maggie Smith’s delightfully acerbic Lady Violet). And by the time Downton Abbey: A New Era premieres in March 2022, fans of the series will no doubt welcome the opportunity to escape into the world of the Crawleys once again.
Source: Downton Abbey/Twitter
