Breaking News
IT’S OFFICIAL: Downton Abbey The Movie To Go Into Production This Summer
The highly-anticipated and rumored revival of Downton Abbey to the big screen is on! Production is slated to begin later this summer.
From what we understand, all of the original cast is set to reprise their signature roles in the motion picture, written by series creator Julian Fellowes.
Fellowes will also serve as the executive producer along with other ‘Downton’ notables behind the scenes: Gareth Neame, Liz Trubridge, and Nigel Marchant. Brian Percival is set to direct. Percival also directed the pilot episode of the critically-acclaimed and beloved period soap opera series.
In a statement, Gareth Neame expressed: “When the television series drew to a close it was our dream to bring the millions of global fans a movie and now, after getting many stars aligned, we are shortly 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 Features chairman, Peter Kujawski, shared: “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 Fellowes and Gareth Neame, in bringing back the world of Downton to the big screen.”
Downton Abbey ran for six seasons on PBS and received 15 Primetime Emmy awards and 69 nominations.
Actress Joanne Froggatt, who plays maid Anna Bates, took to Twitter with much enthusiasm at the news: “Delighted to announce we’re getting the band back together! #DowntonMovie #DowntonAbbey”
So, thrilled to hear the Downton Abbey movie is happening? Comment below.
Hope they keep it classy like the series…every time they move something to the big screen they add more violence, foul words and nudity…and if Miss America drops the swimsuit for the Me2 movement lets stop exploiting women in movies(even if they agree to do the scenes) and drop the nudity…maybe that makes me an old prude well i dont care…a lot of stuff in pictures is not needed-tell a good story is what is needed!!!
Jimh, thanks for your insight and common sense, two things sorely lacking today. The adage ‘less is more’ certainly applies to most movies, especially DOWNTON. They didn’t need profanity or explicit sex before and they won’t need it for the big screen. I’m not a prude and I agree with you. In fact, the more “older” movies I see, the more I see how much we’ve lost in the simple act of storytelling. The movies of the 1970s, my favorite era, pushed some boundaries but not at the expense of the movie. I guess we have to place some blame on the supporters of this recent drivel we’re being offered but, honestly, how many comic book movies or TV remakes can they regurgitate? I trust the filmmakers will honor the DOWNTON legacy, maybe even resurrect Sybil. One can always dream!
Well said…
The me too move me too moment is a joke get off watching the media it is not news anymore it’s just garbage to stir you up ! Live your life and ignore these ignorant people
I very much doubt there will be a reason for concern on that matter, Jimh! Julian Fellowes wrote the script for this film, just like all the series episodes, and he has a true love and respect for his characters….he won’t exploit them simply for the sake of the big screen! I have every expectation that they will be just as classy and unforgettable as we remember them, only a bit older and wiser(?) Best of all, Dame Maggie Smith is returning, so it will definitely be a quality project…
Shay…So our favorite dowager is back! Yea! I’m going to be optimistic the movie will not disappoint.
I’m sure it won’t, Rose! I have great faith in Julian Fellowes’ ability to recreate the magic of the original Downton….Instead of hastily cashing in with a second-rate version of the iconic series in order to placate an audience clearly hungry for more, he lovingly took the time and care necessary to assemble all of the wonderful elements found in the previous seasons of the show. Additionally, you have to know that there is no way our beloved Dame Maggie would be attached to this film unless the quality remained….The Countess Dowager simply wouldn’t have it! I’ve been watching the reruns on PBS this summer, and no matter how many times I view an episode, it still resonates for me….how special and rare is that in this day and age???
I dont go to movies anymore but i will for this one…
I watched one episode and I found it to be a snory instead of a story. Very boring show!
Hi Michael,,I see Brit media as either slapsticky or snooty, so yah boring.
But! I like Sherlock Holmes !
I go The Handsmadian’s Tail a 100 times more than Downton Abbey .
The Handmaid’s Tale is dark and depressing, but it’s still fascinating to watch and brilliantly acted with the exception of that actress who played Eden.
Michael…Agree with you about dark and depressing, which has bothered me on some of our soaps storylines…even though they don’t come close th Handmaids. But I am riveted to it, and from what I have seen from tonight’s promo…wow.
su000… On the good side, still, three quality programs worth watching. At least for me who doesn’t have/or won’t spend money to subscribe to Netflix, Hula, etc. And hopefully the few others starting in the fall won’t disappoint.
Delighted
The Brits talk like they have marbles in their mouth lol
I need to use CC to know what they’re saying..
I can’t go there ..
The tower of Babel in the Old Testament stopped men from speaking one language,one dialect,and sent them off across the globe speaking in differences. The marbles made the world what it is now. SMH.
I am sure they think the same about us
SO THRILLED to know that this is coming out!!! I LOVED Downton Abbey and watched it faithfully. Just knowing that they were working on getting things together for a movie kept me happy. Now that it’s a reality, I am in seventh heaven!
This makes me sad because my sis who loved this Erie’s she had Alzheimer’s and she will now never be able to see this movie. I had never seen the series until I would go over and wstch it over and over with her . I hope it turns our grestvshe would have lived it but now really can’t watch anything. Horrible disease that is why I get upset at Gh and y&r they had a chance to be a teachable moment they both blew it
k/Kay…sorry about your sister and the ripple affect it must have on your fairly. I don’t want to dredge up any bad memories, but what would have made both soaps more of a teachable moment. I’m asking as one who may see this horrible disease creeping into a family I know. Thanks.
I am thrilled!!!!!!!!!!!! I have missed all the wonderful Downton Abbey characters so very much. Can’t wait to see the movie.
Not interested in any more stories about rich people and their happy indentured servants.
Indentured??? As an avid Downton fan, I have never seen any servants portrayed who fit that description! The term was mainly used in the “New World” for those poor Europeans who lacked ships’ passage funds, so their prospective employers in the colonies (later United States of America…) paid their way in return for a certain time of guaranteed work in service to them from each individual who agreed to such an arrangement! Nobody was indebted to Lord Grantham on such a contractual basis. In fact, there were a number of servants who left his employ during the series…Gwen, O’Brien, Alfred, just to name a few, who went on to other endeavors. And the many who stayed or returned after an enforced absence didn’t want to leave despite other opportunities presenting themselves…including Carson, Mrs. Hughes, Anna, Bates, and even Thomas in the end!!! Hence whilst you may not appreciate the show for what it is, at least give Mr. Fellowes credit for accurately depicting history during the Victorian/Edwardian eras and beyond….he painstakingly does his research and uses an expert on all aspects of life during these periods in order to provide the most realistic presentations of these times, and that is but one reason that Downton Abbey is so beloved by the masses.
Shay
Just saw this post and thanks for the wonderful explanation to the word indentured and it’s real meaning. Miss you.
Breaking News
George Cheeks, CBS President & CEO, on Timeline to Launch New Daytime Drama, ‘The Gates’: “We’re So Focused on Getting it Right”
March 2024 will be remembered in the TV and soap world when the news broke that CBS is prepping a brand new daytime drama. Many had thought a major network would never bring a new daytime soap into the world, given that the last time it was attempted was 25 years ago when the now defunct Passions bowed on NBC.
However, The Gates is definitely in development and moving forward with some major players associated with it including: Michele Val Jean as The Gates writer, showrunner and one of its executive producers, and Sheila Ducksworth from NAACP Venture
Now, for the first time since its announcement, George Cheeks, the president and CEO of CBS and chief content officer for news and sports at Paramount+, spoke on the project that will feature a Black family as its central focus who live in a wealthy gated community.
Speaking with Vulture, and when asked if The Gates is really something that truly has a chance of getting on the air, Cheeks clarified, “It’s super real. And just to give you a little bit of the backstory, when we hired Sheila Ducksworth to run the NAACP Venture, she and I had multiple meetings talking about what different genres she was going to lean into, and we talked a lot about daytime.”
Cheeks added, “One of the things that the data made very clear to both of us is that daytime soap operas over index with Black women, and yet when you look at soap operas, it’s usually sort of a white-led family with supporting characters that reflect more of our society. So we just thought, wouldn’t it be interesting to flip that and make the core anchor family a Black family, and then make the other characters reflect more the broader scope of society?”
The CEO gave props to Michele Val Jean, and how Ducksworth came to the table with the former B&B and GH writer. “She found this great writer, Michele Val Jean, who’s been in the soap opera space for 30 years. She came up with a pitch, and we loved it,” shares Cheeks. “We brought Procter & Gamble into it as well, because if there were going to be (product) integrations, we could do it more holistically and organically. All of that is to say, we did a lot of work on the front end to put this together. So while yes, it’s development, it’s accelerated development.”
When prodded on the timeline of when The Gates could come to full fruition, Gates related, “The actual timeline and when we’re going to do it is still uncertain, because we want to get this right. I mean, there hasn’t been a new soap opera launch since I can’t even begin to tell you when. But we have great success with Bold and the Beautiful and Young and the Restless, and so we think we’re the right folks to be launching a new soap. I wish I could tell you more about exact timing, but we’re so focused on getting it right, and that will dictate when we’re ready to launch it.”
The CBS exec also shared that whether The Gates will wind up an hour soap or half-hour is not yet determined, but that it is being developed as an hour show.
So, after reading what George Cheeks, the CBS President & CEO had to say about ‘The Gates’, are you even more excited for what looks to the first new network soap in 25 years? Comment below.
Breaking News
Robyn Bernard, ‘General Hospital’s’ Terry Brock, Dead at 64
Breaking News
51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Announce Broadcast Date on CBS
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) revealed on Tuesday, that the 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be broadcast live on Friday night, June 7th (8 – 10 PM, ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+*.
This year will mark the 18th time CBS has broadcast the Daytime Emmy Awards, which is more than any other network.
The 2024 Daytime Emmys will take place at the Westin Bonaventure in downtown Los Angeles. Back in December of 2023, the delayed 50th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards were also held at that venue. The June 7th date for the upcoming ceremony will be the first time in several years that the event is scheduled a few weeks earlier than normal; excluding last year’s revised date to the actors and writers strikes.
Lifetime Achievement honoree, nominations, host, and additional information will be announced in the coming weeks.
In a statement, Adam Sharp, President and CEO of NATAS noted, “We eagerly anticipate our return in June as we once again partner with CBS to recognize the exceptional and talented individuals who make daytime television great. We’re thrilled to kick off our second half-century of the Daytime Emmys.”
The Daytime Emmy Awards have recognized outstanding achievement in television programming and crafts since 1974, honoring work in a variety of categories, including daytime dramas, talk shows, instructional programming, hosting, culinary, and legal/courtroom programs. In 2021, NATAS and the Television Academy jointly announced plans to realign the Daytime and Primetime Emmy Awards to be organized by content genre, as opposed to program airtime.
The 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards will once again be produced by NATAS and Associated Television International (ATI), which produced Daytime Emmy Award ceremonies on The CW in 2009 and on CBS in 2010, 2011, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. Adam Sharp and Lisa Armstrong are executive producers from NATAS, while David McKenzie is executive producer from ATI.
So, glad to know that the 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards honoring performance and shows in the 2023 calendar year, will be held in early June this year, and once again broadcast on CBS? Comment below.
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