Focus Features and Carnival Films are officially in production on Downton Abbey 3 with main cast members returning and a number of new additions to the feature franchise spawned by creator Julian Fellowes’ global TV phenomenon. Simon Curtis is directing after helming 2022’s feature sequel Downton Abbey: A New Era.
Oscar nominee Paul Giamatti is reprising his role from the TV series as Cora’s (Elizabeth McGovern) brother Harold Levinson. New to the film franchise are Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola and House of the Dragon’s Simon Russell Beale and Arty Froushan. Dominic West will also reprise his role as Guy Dexter from the second movie.
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As well as McGovern, other returning key cast include Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Phyllis Logan, Robert James-Collier, Joanne Froggatt, Allen Leech, Penelope Wilton, Lesley Nicol, Michael Fox, Raquel Cassidy, Brendan Coyle, Kevin Doyle, Harry Hadden-Paton, Sophie McShera and Douglas Reith.
For the moment, there’s no word on plot details. The third feature is written by Fellowes and produced by Gareth Neame, Fellowes and Liz Trubridge.
Fellowes’ wildly successful period drama started life as a series on ITV in 2011. It went on to spawn six seasons and two movies. The first two films, released in 2019 and 2022, grossed a combined $287.3 million globally.
Downton Abbey 3 is a Carnival Films production, with Focus Features and Universal Pictures International distributing. Carnival Films is part of NBCUniversal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group.
Focus and Carnival made the production news official Monday on social media.
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