According to Deadline, Downton Abbey: A New Era is set to release early this summer and hopes to be the film that brings adults back to theatres. Ahead of its release, Focus Features, Universal International and Carnival Films plan to place the title in the best places possible in hopes that Covid eases. The companies have moved the original release date from March 18th to May 20th in the U.S. and April 29th in the UK. 

The first Downton Abbey film scored the best opening for Focus Features within a domestic box office with $31 million. 

The U.S. release date moves to a weekend where the only other major studio-wide release is the Warner Bros animated family film DC Super Pets. The sequel’s move from March 18-20, leaves the STX’s Guy Ritchie feature Operation Fortune: Rude de Guerre the only studio-wide release for that weekend in the U.S. This allowed for focus to move their Mark Ryland crime thriller, The Outfit, from February 25th to Downton Abbey’s old weekend in March. 

Most of Focus Features’ movies release on a 17-day window before heading to a PVOD, as DC’s Batman releasing on March 4th is expected to make upwards of $100 million on its opening weekend. There are no release movies programmed for March 11-13th. 

Downton Abbey: A New Era, is set to follow the characters as they go on a grand journey to the South of France to uncover the mystery of a villa, newly inherited by the Dowager Countess. The original principal cast has returned for the second film, along with new additions, Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye, and Dominic West. 

The screenplay is written by Downton creator and Oscar winner Julian Fellowes, with Emmy- and BAFTA-winning Gareth Neame and Emmy-winning Liz Trubridge producing with Fellowes. BAFTA- and Emmy-nominated Simon Curtis (My Week With Marilyn) is directing.

Downton Abbey: A New Era is set to release in theatres on May 20, 2022, in the U.S.