Connect with us

Downton Abbey

3

REPORT: Maggie Smith is Leaving Downton Abbey After Season Three!

Courtesy/PBS

Courtesy/PBS

Dame Maggie Smith, who plays  the Dowager Countess, one of the central figures in the hit Masterpiece Classic soap opera and worldwide hit, Downton Abbey is said to be exiting the series after season three is completed.

Rumors and reports have been swirling for a few months, but according to the Huffingtonpost.com today, “The Daily Mail reported that Smith told “Downton” writer Julian Fellowes that she wants the third season to be her last. Although, the paper reports that he has persuaded her to do the Christmas special following the third season. 

The Daily Mail’s source claims that Smith has asked to be written out of the show, saying that the veteran actress would like to go out on a high note after three seasons. “‘She is filming until August and then wants to leave. She thinks that three series is enough, and she wants to get back to the stage and big screen.”

For some Downton Abbey fans, this news may sound troubling, especially after “Masterpiece Theater” executive producer Rebecca Eaton revealed that in season three,  somebody will die and that it will be somebody pretty key in the cast, who is unfortunately not going to make it.”

Downton Abbey season three is currently in production in the UK, where Shirley MacLaine is guest starring as Lady Crawley’s mother and is expected to go head to head with Smith’s Dowager Countess in the newly filmed episodes!

What do you think of  “Downton” without Maggie? Let us know!

 

Leave a comment | 3 Comments

3 Comments
oldest
newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Oh NOOOOO 🙁

Downton Abbey wouldn’t be the same without her. Hope they persuade her to stay a while more.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She’s one of my faves. Maybe they can persuade her to make cameo appearances. I can understand she doesn’t want to be tied to a TV show, but hopefully she will come back here and there.

I guess in England the TV shows generally don’t go on for as many seasons as in America and maybe when she signed she only signed on for three seasons. I hope others don’t defect. Surely they have time when they aren’t filming for other work.

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.

Continue Reading

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.

Continue Reading

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.

Continue Reading

Video Du Jour

Peter Reckell returns for a second visit with Michael Fairman following the wrap-up of his recent run as Bo Brady on Days of our Lives.Leave A Comment

Recent Comments

Power Performance

Kim Coles as Whitley

Days of our Lives

Airdate: 7-24- 2023

Popular