Downton Abbey is returning for a feature-length movie after a four-year break following the end of the series in 2015. Here’s everything you need to know before it premieres.
‘Downton Abbey’ movie premiere date
The Downton Abbey movie will be heading to theaters across the U.S. on September 20, 2019. For fans across the pond in the U.K., they will get the movie a little earlier, with a release date of September 13, 2019.
AMC Theaters already have advance tickets available to buy.
‘Downton Abbey’ movie synopsis
While an official synopsis has not been released for the Downton Abbey movie, we do have some details about what is about to go down when the Crawley family and their entourage return to our screens.
Set in 1927, right on the cusp of the Great Depression, the titular stately home will play host to a royal visit from King George V and Queen Mary. Beloved butler Carson will be convinced to come out of retirement for one last hoorah, in order to ensure that Downton is in tip-top shape to receive its royal guests — particularly as the estate’s once sprawling number of staff has dwindled, with the cost of upkeep becoming a serious concern.
Of course, as this is Downton Abbey we should expect the usual drama, as well as some potential romance, new and old faces, and more emotions that you feasibly know how to handle.
‘Downton Abbey’ movie trailer
Several trailers have been released in anticipation of the Downton Abbey movie. The first teaser was released in December 2018, and largely focused on showing the household staff preparing the house to receive guests, though it also had a handful of shots of the surrounding village, providing a hint at just who might be coming to visit.
A full-length trailer followed on May 21, 2019, and revealed far more details and scenes from the movie — particularly Maggie Smith’s Dowager Countess’ iconic quips and fire, which has not at all dulled in the intervening years since the show was last on the air. It also previewed some friction between the remaining staff at the estate and the royal staff, with it seemingly coming to a head late in the trailer, much to Carson’s dismay.
A U.S. trailer was also released, which showed some alternative scenes and footage from the movie.
Additionally, a first-look clip was released on August 30, 2019, centering around the Dowager Countess and Lady Maud Bagshaw — as played by Imelda Staunton — who appear to have no love lost between them.
Where we last left the ‘Downton Abbey’ characters
If you don’t have the time to re-watch Downton Abbey ahead of the movie’s premiere, we’ve got you covered, with a quick reminder of where we last left all of the major characters and players when the series took its bow in 2015.
Lady Mary fell in love with, and married, a racing driver called Henry Talbot. He became George’s step-father, and by the time the sixth season ended, Mary was running Downton in Lord Grantham’s place, following a nasty health scare on her father’s part, and was pregnant with her second child.
Tom Branson also returned from America with his daughter, Sybbie, and proceeded to set up a business with Mary’s husband, called Talbot and Branson Motors.
Middle-child Lady Edith also found love with Bertie Pelham, and the two married, providing a strong family unit for her illegitimate daughter Marigold. Edith also continued to pursue, and succeed, with her career in publishing.
Dowager Countess Violet handed over responsibility for the local hospital to Lady Gratham, who became its president. Meanwhile, Isobel Crawley became Baroness Merton, when she married “Dickie” Grey — a.k.a. Lord Merton — despite strong opposition from his daughter-in-law.
Meanwhile, the Downton staff also had several upheavals. Anna and Bates had a son together, Carson and Mrs. Hughes married, and the former retired after developing palsy, but handed over his responsibilities as butler to Thomas Barrow, Mrs. Patmore set up her own bed and breakfast business, Mr. Molesley left Downton to become a schoolteacher, and Daisy fell in love with footman Andy and moved to live on the farm that she inherited from her first husband, William.
‘Downton Abbey’ movie cast
The majority of the cast from the television series will be returning, with the exception of Lily James, who played Lady Rose, whose character moved to America with husband Atticus. Ed Speelers, a.k.a. James “Jimmy” Kent will also be absent when Downton makes its big-screen debut.
— Downton Abbey (@DowntonAbbey) June 17, 2019
Otherwise, the returning cast is as follows;
Michelle Dockery — Lady Mary
Matthew Goode — Henry Talbot
Laura Carmichael — Lady Edith
Allen Leech — Tom Branson
Hugh Bonneville — Lord Grantham
Elizabeth McGovern — Lady Cora
Joanne Froggatt — Anna Bates
Dame Maggie Smith — Dowager Countess
Penelope Wilton — Lady Isobel
Rob James-Collier — Thomas Barrow
Lesley Nicol — Mrs. Patmore
Jim Carter — Mr. Carson
Phyllis Logan — Mrs. Hughes
Brendan Coyle — Mr. Bates
Sophie McShera — Daisy Mason
Some of the new faces joining the above familiar ones are;
Imelda Staunton — Lady Bagshaw
David Haig — Royal butler
Geraldine James — Queen Mary
Kate Phillips — Mary, Princess Royal
Stephen Campbell-Moore — Undisclosed role
Tuppence Middleton — Lucy Smith
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