Warning: MILD SPOILERS for the Downton Abbey Movie
The Downton Abbey movie is the big-screen continuation of the Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning series that ran from 2010-2015 - but will there be a Downton Abbey 2? Created by Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park), Downton Abbey was a global phenomenon that aired for six seasons on ITV in the UK, and on Masterpiece PBS in the United States.
Set in 1927, 18 months after the series finale, the Downton Abbey movie centers on a major event in the lives of the Crawley family: King George V (Simon Jones) and Queen Mary (Geraldine James) announce that they're coming to stay at Downton. This ignites a firestorm of preparation as Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville), Cora, Countess of Grantham (Elizabeth McGovern), and Lady Mary Talbot (Michelle Dockery) rally the rest of their clan and their servants, including their former butler Carson (Jim Carter), head housemaid Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan), and their cook Mrs. Patmore (Lesley Nicol), to prepare for the royal family's arrival and restore Downton Abbey to glory.
Nearly every character from Downton Abbey returns for the film, which also introduces new characters like Lady Maud Bagshaw (Imelda Staunton), the distant cousin of Lord Grantham, who harbors secrets of her own. As for whether or not there will be a Downton Abbey 2 - here's what we know about a potential sequel.
When Will The Downton Abbey Movie Sequel Be Released?
There is currently no Downton Abbey movie sequel announced. The production team behind Downton Abbey are waiting to see what the box office reception is for the first film before they set plans in motion for another one. However, Julian Fellowes said, jokingly, that another film is a "definite possibility," especially since he hadn't "killed off half the cast" in the movie. Producer Gareth Neame added that there is "a plan" for a sequel if the Downton Abbey movie does well enough.
The Downton Abbey movie was announced in July 2018 and went into production during August-November 2018. If the September 2019 release date proves fruitful for the Downton Abbey movie, keeping a similar time-frame would likely see a sequel arrive in theaters on September 2021.
Who Will Be In The Cast Of Downton Abbey Movie 2?
It wouldn't be Downton Abbey without the Crawley family upstairs and their loyal servants downstairs, so Downton Abbey 2 would see almost the entire principal cast return, including Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Allen Leech, Jim Carter, Phyllis Logan, Sophie McShera, Joanne Froggatt, Brendan Coyle, and Matthew Goode.
One major character who likely won't be returning is Maggie Smith as Violet, the Dowager Countess, given the events in the Downton Abbey movie and her announcement to Lady Mary. However, Maggie Smith's departure could open the door for Lily James to reprise her role as Lady Rose Aldridge and Samantha Bond to return as Aunt Rosamund in Downton Abbey 2, since both were absent from the first movie.
What Will Downton Abbey Movie 2's Story Be About?
Whatever the producers' plans are for Downton Abbey 2, they are keeping it under wraps. It would, again, have to be an event big enough to utilize the entire cast and give everyone something to do, just as King George and Queen Mary's visit to Downton encompassed the all of the characters. However, the Downton Abbey movie did leave some plot threads hanging: besides the resolution to Violet Crawley's departure, Daisy Mason (Sophie McShera) decided she wanted to marry Andy the Footman (Michael Fox) and Edith (Laura Carmichael) announced she and her husband Bertie (Harry Hadden-Paton) are expecting a baby.
There would also likely be a time jump from the Downton Abbey movie's 1927 setting, and that would continue the saga's theme that their extravagant way of life is coming to an end, meaning the Crawleys would have to face the changes coming to England in the 1930s.
