Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey Executive Producer Previews What To Watch For In Season Four!

January 3, 2014

Courtesy/PBS

Courtesy/PBS

The wait is almost over, Downton Abbey fans of the United States!

This Sunday, season four of the Emmy-award winning drama returns stateside for season four on PBS‘ Masterpiece Classic. TV Guide spoke with series executive producer Gareth Provan for some insight into season four which includes the exit of Dan Stevens (Ex-Matthew) last season, what this means for Michelle Dockery’s Lady Mary, where is Branson (Allen Leech) in all of this, and just how many season does he see “Downton” continuing on! Here are a few interesting excerpts below!

Gareth on how it seemed fans of ‘Downton’ got over the death of Matthew when at first they were livid!: “The thing is that episode ran on Christmas Day in England, and unlike over here, that is the biggest TV day of the year because the tradition is that we stay at home with the family and watch. So it was a big shock and in a way we did ruin a few Christmases. But those twists and turns and shocks are part of the energy of the show. It’s the soap opera of it all that is what hundreds of millions of people around the world are watching. I think as much as people hated the loss of such a loved character, it’s what’s going to happen next that keeps people engaged. We did get comments from China saying, “We want you to bring his character back from the dead!”‘

Gareth on how Mary is doing post the death of her beloved Matthew at the beginning of season four: “We are about six months after his death when we return. Mary is a living death, she’s completely given up. We filmed the first episode in February so it was very wintery, and everything seemed dead. Mary’s family and servants will slowly start to bring her back to the fact that she has a child and has to live. That’s really what the first episode is about. It’s a complicated situation, because there’s so much pain associated with that child.”

Gareth on how long he, and series creator Julian Fellowes, think Downton Abbey will continue: “We’re starting to shoot Season 5 in a few weeks. There won’t be a 10th season, so it will be somewhere in between. We will try to manage the way we bring the show to an end in hopefully as good of a way as we gave birth to it so we feel complete. It can’t go as far as 1930 because the actors would be very much the wrong ages.”

So, will you be watching Sunday night for the return of Downton Abbey? How long do you think the series should continue so it still can deliver interesting soap opera and not run its course? Let us know!

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Rodd

I will definitely be watching and will continue to watch as long as it remains true to its format and high standards. I do, however, understand that they will want to stop at some point and look for a satisfying ending.

Downton Abbey

‘Downton Abbey 2’: Big-Screen Sequel Announced & Coming For Christmas

April 19, 2021

So many of us loved the soap opera that was Downton Abbey when it aired on PBS and ITV for six seasons. Then, a few years later in 2019, the highly-awaited Downton Abbey movie hit movie theatres near you.

Now comes word from Focus Features that a big-screen sequel is in the works and is slated for release this Christmas in December of 2021.

In a social media announcement, the film company shared: “We’re thrilled to announce that Julian Fellowes and the entire Downton cast are back for #DowntonAbbey2, with Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye and Dominic West joining! See the film in theaters this Christmas.”

While, of course, no plot has been teased or given away, Fellowes will write the screenplay, with Simon Curtis (My Week with Marilyn) set to direct.

“There’s no place like home for the holidays, and we can’t imagine a better gift than getting to reunite with Julian, (producer) Gareth Neame and the entire Downton family in 2021 to bring the Crawleys back home for their fans,” said Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawsk in a statement.

So, excited to see your favorites and some potential new ones in the all-new Downton Abbey Movie later this year? Comment below.

Breaking News

DOWNTON ABBEY THE MOVIE: Official Trailer Released

May 21, 2019

Finally, Downton Abbey fans get a preview of the upcoming motion picture that is set for release in theatres on September 20th.

What we know is that the The film is set in 1927 and the plot revolves around the King and Queen of England coming to the estate for a visit and so … the Crawleys must prepare their arrival. In fact, they have to bring back Mr. Carson to help!

Featured in the trailer are series stars, who are also back for the film: Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Michelle Dockery, Matthew Goode, Joanne Froggatt, Jim Carter and Maggie Smith.

Series creator Julian Fellowes wrote the script and Michael Engler will serve as director. Engler directed the two-hours series finale.

As fans know, Downton Abbey ran on PBS Masterpiece for six seasons here in the U.S.

Check out the trailer, and then let us know if you are excited to see the movie? Comment below.

Breaking News

‘Downton Abbey’ The Movie Releases Its First Trailer

December 14, 2018

Now here’s a huge teaser that will get you wanting to see more! Those of us who loved the British period soap opera, Downton Abbey, which came to a conclusion after its sixth season on PBS here in the United States, will finally get their wish when the film version hits in 2019.

As previously reported, the series executive producer Gareth Naeme said about the film, “We aim to deliver everything that one would hope for as Downton comes to the big screen.”

Look for the film to land in movie theatres on Friday, September 20th, 2019, with it debuting internationally the week prior on Friday, September 13th.

Most of the cast is intact including: Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, Michelle Dockery, Kevin Doyle, Joanne Froggatt, Matthew Goode, Harry Hadden-Paton, David Haig, Geraldine James, Robert James-Collier, Simon Jones, Allen Leech, Phyllis Logan, Elizabeth McGovern, Sophie McShera, Tuppence Middleton, Stephen Campbell Moore, Lesley Nicol, Kate Phillips, Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton and Penelope Wilton.

Julian Fellowes once again writes the script for the film for the characters he created for the TV series.

Now check out the first trailer below, when just hearing that memorable opening theme song, it brought us back to the drama and the romance of Downton Abbey.

Let us know if you are thrilled to know that the movie is set for release …. and if you are looking forward to seeing what happens to the Crawleys and others in the next chapter of their story when the movie comes your way via the comment section below.