It’s time for tea, Downton Abbey fans! Monday morning, it was announced that Focus Features would shoot the hit movie’s sequel, a spinoff of the long-running PBS television series. It was also announced that the original cast would once again reprise their roles for the second film that began production just last week.
New cast members will join in on all the fun and drama that happens at Downton that includes Hugh Dancy (Hannibal), Laura Haddock (Guardians of the Galaxy), Nathalie Baye (Catch Me If You Can), and Dominic West (The Wire). The creator of the series, Julian Fellowes, will be back again to write the sequel’s screenplay, but a different director from the first film will direct. Simon Curtis (My Week with Marilyn) is set to direct the sequel.
The first film follows the King and Queen of England’s visit to the Crawley family and Downton staff.
Gareth Neame, the film’s producer and executive chairman of Carnival Films, said, “After a very challenging year with so many of us separated from family and friends, it is a huge comfort to think that better times are ahead and that next Christmas we will be reunited with the much beloved characters of Downton Abbey.”
Peter Kujawski, Focus Features chairman, added: “There’s no place like home for the holidays, and we can’t imagine a better gift than getting to reunite with Julian, Gareth, and the entire Downton family in 2021 to bring the Crawley’s back home for their fans.”
The film is set for a theatrical release on December 22, 2021.