A huge TV success and a film that earned almost $238m (read our review HERE) we now have news that Downton Abbey 2 starts filming with Lord and Lady Grantham requesting the pleasure of moviegoers’ company at their Yorkshire country estate this Christmas. The original principal cast will all once again return for the second film, which began production last week and is set to release on December 22, 2021.
In addition to the original cast, Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock (“Guardians of the Galaxy”), Nathalie Baye and Dominic West will join the festivities, providing viewers with a heavily romanticized view of the good old English class system along with a healthy dollop of real-estate envy. “Downton Abbey 2” will once again be written by creator Julian Fellowes with Emmy and BAFTA Award winner Neame and Emmy Award-winning Liz Trubridge back to produce alongside him. Simon Curtis (“My Week with Marilyn”) will direct the sequel.
The initial film followed a royal visit to the Crawley family and Downton staff from the King and Queen of England. It’s unclear if another distinguished personage will visit the estate, sending staff and family into a dither and providing an opportunity for a few well-timed bon mots courtesy of Maggie Smith’s Lady Violet.
Neame, the film’s producer and executive chairman of Carnival Films, said that Downton Abbey 2 was the perfect antidote to a terrible year and change. “After a very challenging year with so many of us separated from family and friends, it is a huge comfort to think that better times are ahead and that next Christmas we will be reunited with the much beloved characters of Downton Abbey,” he said.
Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski also focused on the restorative pleasures of a return to Downton. “There’s no place like home for the holidays, and we can’t imagine a better gift than getting to reunite with Julian, Gareth, and the entire Downton family in 2021 to bring the Crawley’s back home for their fans,” he said.
