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Downton Abbey Updates: Maggie Smith Confirmed For Season Four! Will Continue Delayed Broadcasts In The States!

Courtesy/Masterpiece Classic

Courtesy/Masterpiece Classic

Golden Globe and Academy Award winner  Dame Maggie Smith has agreed to be part of season four of the hit British soap Downton Abbey!  But there was some not so good news for U.S. fans of “Downton” as well!

According to VanityFair.com: “Smith will return to Downton for its next installment—even if the Crawleys are forced to downsize into a depressingly normal-sized manor house near Durham.  Apparently, series creator Julian Fellowes considered the 78-year-old Dame Commander to be a flight risk.  Last summer he told press that the actress had not signed on to a fourth tour with the period drama: “With Maggie, you never know . . . Other actors sign on for the next series and they sign for this and they sign for that, but she doesn’t. She stays her own person.”

However in the bad news department for fans in the United States, who were hoping to be looped in to the series at the same time its first airs on ITV in Great Britain, PBS and Masterpiece Classic have announced that even though the series did huge numbers for its season three premiere a few weeks ago, it will more than likely continue to run in the U.S. nearly four months after it does overseas, and that according to PBS chief Paula Kerger.

So are you happy that the Dowager Countess lives on and thus Maggie Smith can continue to delight us with her performances? And, are you upset that you basically have to try to avoid anything on the Internet regarding the cast and series spoilers since the third season and the upcoming fourth season will air in the U.S. so far out after the series first airs in the U.K? Weigh-in!

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Maggie smith is the only reason to keep watching downton abbey. Her popularity and acting probably contributed greatly to nbc universal broadcasting abbey the same day through Asian countries. downton abbey would not be downton abbey w/o maggie.

Delighted to have Dame Smith continue to shoot those brillant zingers ad hay to get “Downton Abbey” at anytime. Just love it!

Should have read, “Delighted to ave Dame Smith continu to shoot those brilliant zingers and happy to get ‘Downton Abbey’ at any time. Just love it!” ….Sorry, for the typos.

Are you going to correct the typos in your correction of typos? Haha 😉

I’m very happy Maggie will be back. She is excellent in everything she does and would sorely be missed.

I think it’s really stupid that the US has to wait 4 months for the show to air here. What’s the point? Do they think that it couldn’t compete at the same time that all the new season network shows are airing? Why not just air in both places in Nov.-Dec. and give us a nice Holiday treat?

I am happy that Maggie will return.She of the one zingers,really give me a smile. She is a great actress,and welcome back. I guess I wouldn’t mind seeing Downton Abbey on at the same time as in England,of course PBS has certainly turned this into a ratings bonanza. Oh well I watch when its on,and I enjoy it. It is no matter what else they call it.A soap opera.
I do not avoid the net,I just watch nothing from England,so I am not spoiled. If I am oh well.I do not go out of my way to find spoilers in this show.

Thrilled Mags is back. It doesn’t matter to me that it airs here after England.

I have seen Series 3 of “Downton” when it aired last year on ITV, so I know how things end. But when I was watching, I purposely avoided looking at any articles or spoliers, because all is revealed. Surprise is key to one’s enjoyment of this show

Did I miss something in SEASON THREE?! Why are they having to move into a smaller Manor House or was it sarcasm?! Sorry… a little slow today.

Not sure why they would have to move out because like Dallas with Southfork, Dukes of Hazard with the General Lee, Knots Landing without the Cul De Sac or even any of the British soaps like Coronation Street without Rovers Return Pub, the show isn’t the same.

THE GRAND CASTLE is a star on the show and we all want to leave there. A smaller Manor House is like our McMansions here. We all want them but once we get into them we regret it big time.

Thanks for posting this up. Maggie Smith’s portrayal of the Dowager, is one of the main reasons I watch the show. 🙂

Downton Abbey

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

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.

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Breaking News

DOWNTON ABBEY THE MOVIE: Official Trailer Released

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.

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Breaking News

‘Downton Abbey’ The Movie Releases Its First Trailer

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.

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