Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes drops MAJOR hint at show comeback… five years after raking in £75m with first spin-off movie
Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes has hinted at a show return.
The TV writer and Conservative peer, 74, was asked about a future for the series, which ran for six seasons from 2010 to 2015 before hitting the big screen in 2019 and 2022, with two movie adaptations of the show.
As he prepares to unveil Belgravia: The Next Chapter on Amazon Prime, the follow-up to his 2020 ITV Belgravia series, Julian spoke about the future of Downton.
He said: ‘Well, never say never [to a return]. If there is a demand for Downton then we have a supply. Has it come to an end in the movies? Maybe not…
‘Nothing is ever too final. I mean, there could be a spin-off with some of the younger characters. It has been such a force for so long.’
In May last year, The Mail on Sunday revealed Downton – with the wealthy Crawley family at its heart – is to make its television comeback.
The production company behind the Golden Globe-winning show – which covered the many societal changes and world events between 1912 and 1928 – is casting.
It was revealed at the time they are hoping that it can attract all of the big names back, including Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery and Elizabeth McGovern.
And while still in the early stages, sources say that it is hoped it will be ready to screen by the end of next year – although filming commitments by the main stars may push that back.
It is understood that the show, created and produced by Julian, will be screened on ITV, its home since its launch in September 2010.
One insider said: ‘There is a plan which is in development and there is a lot of excitement about. There is casting taking place, and it would be great if all of the big stars can return. People loved Downton…
‘It became a British instituti on and it has been much missed since it left our screens. There is huge excitement around this project…
‘It was a Sunday night favourite and got huge viewing figures. There has been very little to compete with it ever since it ended.’
The final episode of the show – which acted as a launch pad for the careers of Michelle, Lily James, who played Lady Rose; and Jessica Brown Findlay, who played Lady Sybil Crawley, was aired on Christmas Day in 2015, with figures peaking at 7.4m.
Meanwhile, Lily made a welcome one-off return, along with Matt Barber as Atticus, for the finale.
Other notable moments included lady’s maid Anna Smith (Joanne Frogatt) going into labour during the wedding reception, with her and valet Bates (Brendan Coyle) becoming proud parents of a healthy son.
Such was the demand by fans that the series – the most nominated British show in Emmy history – was followed by two movies in 2019 and 2022.
The first, set in 1927, depicts a royal visit to the Crawley family’s stately home in Yorkshire. As royal staff members descend on Downton, an assassin has also arrived and attempts to kill the monarch.
The second movie, Downton Abbey: A New Era, saw the Crawley family go on a grand journey to the South of France to uncover the ‘mysterious past’ behind the newly inherited villa of the indomitable Violet Crawley (played by Dame Maggie Smith). Dominic West also joined the cast as Guy Dexter.
