The last year has been filled with so many major movie delays that it’s staggering to think of something huge shooting right now with a plan to release before the year is out. But that’s precisely what’s happening with the return of Downton Abbey. The beloved ITV period drama spawned a popular spin-off movie in 2019, and now the Crawleys are back for a sequel – no inventive title here, it’s simply Downton Abbey 2 – which has already begun shooting. Not only that, but it’s down for a release this side of Christmas, a festive treat for fans of Julian Fellowes.
The plot of the sequel is under wraps, but Fellowes has returned on script duties, and the entire principal cast will be back. Not only that, but there are new faces joining the production: including Dominic West, Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, and Nathalie Baye. Set to direct this one is Simon Curtis – previously behind Goodbye Christopher Robin and My Week With Marilyn – taking over from Michael Engler.
With a spring-summer shoot, it’s entirely feasible that this one will be ready in time for its 22 December release – presumably, it shouldn’t require a major post-production period, unless this one finds Dame Maggie Smith going full McGonagall and taking on Robert Crawley in an epic wizarding duel, tearing around the Abbey in search of Horcruxes to destroy. (Though, to be clear, that version does sound pretty exciting. Fellowes, we await your call.)