Focus Features Announces ‘Downton Abbey’ Movie

The Crawley family returns to make their big screen debut. That’s right, Downton Abbey fans; everyone’s favorite Edwardian English family is back and bigger than ever in the Downton Abbey Movie. The entire original cast, including Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville, and Jim Carter, will return for the feature film, with Focus and Carnival Films at the helm of the project.

Along with the lovable and unforgettable cast, Julian Fellowes (the original creator of the series) returns. The Academy Award winner has already written the screenplay for the upcoming film, and he will also produce alongside Gareth Neame and Liz Trubridge. Brian Percival, who directed the show’s pilot, is set to direct the film.

Downton Abbey follows the lives of the Crawley Family (and their servants) around the turn of the 20th century in the family’s Edwardian English country home. The show, which ended after six seasons, was held in high esteem within every possible television award category. Altogether, the series brought in 3 Golden Globe Awards, 15 Primetime Emmy Awards (and 69 Emmy nominations), and a Special BAFTA award. Downton Abbey is the most nominated non-U.S. show in the history of the Emmy’s, and it even achieved a Guinness World Record for the highest critically-rated television series of all time.

Carnival’s Executive Chairman, Gareth Neame, stated the following about the project: “When the television series drew to a close it was our dream to bring the millions of global fans a movies, and now, after getting many stars aligned, we are shorty to go into production. Julian’s script charms, thrills, and entertains, and in Brian Percival’s hands we aim to deliver everything that one would hope for as Downton comes to the big screen.”

Focus Chairman, Peter Kujawski, also shared his excitement for the project, saying “Since the series ended, fans of Downton have long been waiting for the Crawley family’s next chapter… We’re thrilled to join this incredible group of filmmakers, actors, and craftspeople, led by Julian Fellows and Gareth Neame, in bringing back the world of Downton to the big screen.”

The Downton Abbey movie is a Carnival Films production, with Focus Features and Universal Pictures International distributing. Production begins this summer.