Downton Abbey 3 potential release date, cast, plot and everything you need to know

Downton Abbey: A New Era spoilers follow.

Downton Abbey 3 is in the works, according to Imelda Staunton.

The actress, who plays Lady Bagshaw in the franchise, confirmed during an interview with the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show with Zoe Ball that a third and last Downton Abbey film is being planned.

"There will be the final film – there you go," she said, remarking that she doesn't care about getting into trouble for revealing this information ahead of production company Carnival Films or creator Julian Fellowes, who still haven't officially confirmed the threequel.

In fact, back in 2022, her co-star Hugh Bonneville wasn't entirely sure if it would happen.

"I thought for a while that maybe there was an energy to do a third one, but I suspect that's probably not the case. I think we've probably quit on a high," he told Radio Times.

While we wait to see if Staunton is right, here's what we know about a potential Downton Abbey 3.

Downton Abbey 3 potential release date: When could Downton Abbey 3 be out in cinemas?

As mentioned before, Downton Abbey 3 has yet to be officially confirmed, so it doesn't have a release date yet.

However, Imelda Staunton's unofficial confirmation offers some hope for the fans of the franchise.

Also, creator Julian Fellowes has always been open to the idea of more movies, even if he was equally happy if Downton Abbey: A New Era turns to be the end for the franchise.

"The truth is if they want more and the cast want to do more, then I'm sure we'll find a way of delivering more," he said in May 2022, when the second movie was released. "But I don't mind if it's run its course, I think that's fair enough, too."

If the threequel gets confirmed, when can we expect it?

There were three years between the first two movies, though some of the delay was due to the COVID pandemic impacting filming. That's why it's quite difficult to guess a release date at this time. We'll have to wait to know more.

Downton Abbey 3 cast: Who will return for Downton Abbey 3?

Before we get into who might return for a potential threequel, we need to warn again about spoilers, so don't read past the photo if you haven't seen the sequel yet.

Well, the obvious person who won't return is Maggie Smith, since the Dowager died at the end of the sequel, something teased since the end of the first movie.

Never say never to a flashback, but it seems unlikely she'd return for a third film.

Though Cora had a brief illness scare, she's quickly offered treatment and a positive prognosis, so Elizabeth McGovern could return — along with Hugh Bonneville as Robert Crawley.

As the 'captain' of Downton, Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Talbot would be an obvious return, along with her sister Lady Edith played by Laura Carmichael.

Regarding other family (and extended family), we'd expect Samantha Bond back as Lady Rosamund Painswick, along with Allen Leech as Tom Branson and Tuppence Middleton as Lucy Branson (avec her new baby, who we can only assume will be named Violet after the now-dead Dowager).

We should also be seeing Penelope Wilton as Isobel Grey, Douglas Reith as Richard "Dickie" Grey, Harry Hadden-Paton as Herbert "Bertie" Pelham (Edith's husband) and Imelda Staunton as Maud.

Wilton certainly seems keen for a return if there is a third movie, telling Digital Spy in April 2023: "I think I'd come back, oh definitely. Yes. Even without Lady Grantham."

Matthew Goode was not in the sequel, due to scheduling conflicts, and the movie excused his absence by hinting at turbulent waters in Henry and Mary's relationship (which could be a plot point for a threequel, if they can get their schedules to line up!).

Staff-wise, we can expect the return of:

• Jim Carter as Charles Carson
• Raquel Cassidy as Phyllis Baxter
• Paul Copley as Albert Mason
• Brendan Coyle as John Bates
• Kevin Doyle as Joseph Molesley
• Michael Fox as Andy Parker
• Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates
• Sue Johnston as Miss Denker
• Phyllis Logan as Elsie Carson
• Sophie McShera as Daisy Parker
• Lesley Nicol as Beryl Patmore

One big 'maybe' in the staff column is Robert James-Collier as Thomas Barrow. At the end of A New Era, Barrow accepts an offer from Dominic West's Guy Dexter to join him in America — which means we're likely not see West again, either.

The same goes for Hugh Dancy as Jack Barber, the movie's director, and Laura Haddock as Myrna Dalgleish, the silent film star who adopts an American accent (with Cora's help) and heads to Hollywood to further her career in the 'talkies'.

It's also unlikely we'd see Nathalie Baye or Jonathan Zaccaï again, as their story is wrapped up with the transfer of the villa to the Crawleys.

Downton Abbey 3 plot: How does Downton Abbey 2 set up a sequel?

Well, it doesn't, really, except that time keeps moving forward and the Crawleys are still ticking.

Depending on what Fellowes has in mind, we could see the Crawleys struggling to adapt to modernisation with World War II looming on the horizon.

While this might seem like a repeat of the show's plot with World War I, the later conflict was much more immediately felt, and seeing how the family navigates the potential physical harm to their loved ones and home might be the kind of story that fans would find interesting.

Downton's success has always rested on the interpersonal dynamics (aka drama!) of its characters, and it could be just as likely we see Mary and Henry struggling in their marriage as the central plot point of a third movie.

Downton Abbey 3 trailer: Any Downton Abbey 3 footage yet?

Since Downton Abbey 3 hasn't even been confirmed yet, no filming has taken place and so we'll be waiting a while for a trailer. Sorry.

Universal Pictures Downton Abbey: A New Era [DVD] [2022]

£5 at Amazon

Universal Pictures Downton Abbey: The Movie [DVD]

£5 at Amazon£7 at Zavvi

Abacus Playing Under the Piano by Hugh Bonneville

Now 20% Off

£18 at Amazon£19 at Waterstones£22 at foyles.co.uk

Universal Pictures/ITV/Carnival Films/WGBH-TV Downton Abbey - Series 1- 6 [DVD] [2015]

£60 at Amazon

Headline Downton Abbey: The Official Film Companion

Now 11% Off

£27 at Amazon£30 at Waterstones£25 at foyles.co.uk

St. Martin's Griffin Downton Abbey - A Celebration: The Official Companion to All Six Seasons (World of Downton Abbey)

£20 at Amazon

Decca Downton Abbey: Original Music from the TV Series (Digital Download)

£6 at Amazon

White Lion Publishing The Official Downton Abbey Cookbook

Now 20% Off

£21 at Amazon£26 at Waterstones£25 at foyles.co.uk

Decca Downton Abbey: The Essential Collection (Digital Download)

£4 at Amazon

White Lion Publishing The Official Downton Abbey Cocktail Book

Now 29% Off

£11 at Amazon£15 at Waterstones£15 at foyles.co.uk

Gabriella Geisinger

Gabriella Geisinger is a freelance journalist and film critic, and was previously Deputy Movies Editor at Digital Spy. She loves Star Wars, coming-of-age stories, thrillers, and true crime. A born and raised New Yorker, she also loves coffee and the colour black, obviously.