Say Goodbye to ‘Downton Abbey’ With Beautiful New ‘Grand Finale’ Image [Exclusive]

The doors to Downton Abbey are opening one last time — and this time, it’s for goodbye. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale officially premieres in theatres on September 12. As part of Collider’s Exclusive Preview event, we are pleased to accept an RSVP from Elizabeth McGovern‘s Cora and Laura Carmichael‘s Lady Edith Grantham as we exclusively debut a new image from the final installment in the long-running franchise.

After more than a decade of upstairs-downstairs drama, witty remarks, romantic entanglements, and historic milestones, it all comes down to this: one last gathering, one final bow. Set in the early 1930s, the film picks up as the Crawleys — and the loyal staff that make Downton tick — confront a new world changing rapidly around them. But if the trailer makes one thing clear, it’s that not everything has changed. The clink of silverware, the rustle of gowns, the warm glow of candlelight — the atmosphere remains as rich and comforting as ever.

And yet, there’s a ghost in the house. Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith), may be gone, but her influence is everywhere. The new image Collider is debuting captures that perfectly: Elizabeth McGovern’s Cora and Laura Carmichael’s Edith sit side by side at a glittering soirée, tiaras glinting, as if Violet might sweep in at any moment with a withering observation. The legacy she leaves behind — in both spirit and storyline — is the heartbeat of this final chapter.

‘Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale’ Brings Scandal

Of course, it wouldn’t be Downton Abbey without a little scandal. The trailer teases plenty of it. Lady Mary’s marriage troubles have hit the newspapers. Paul Giamatti returns as Harold Levinson, and this time his arrival brings not comic relief, but a serious threat to the very existence of Downton. Whispers of bankruptcy and loss swirl through the corridors. And from the looks of it, this might not just be the end of the series — it could be the end of Downton itself.

Alongside McGovern and Carmichael, the entire principal cast returns, including Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Jim Carter, Joanne Froggatt, Brendan Coyle, Phyllis Logan, and Robert James-Collier. Paul Copley, Raquel Cassidy, Kevin Doyle, and Michael Fox are also back. But there are new guests at the table, too: Alessandro Nivola, Joely Richardson, Arty Froushan, and Simon Russell Beale bring fresh intrigue to the final chapter, while Giamatti’s Harold returns to rattle nerves and maybe settle scores.

Directed by Simon Curtis, with a screenplay by Julian Fellowes, The Grand Finale is once again produced by Gareth Neame, Fellowes, and Liz Trubridge. The result is a film that feels like the natural close to an era — and, according to the cast, a deeply personal sendoff.

The final chapter of Downton Abbey opens in theatres on September 12. See our exclusive image above and stay tuned for more from Collider’s Exclusive Preview event all week.