It’s the final installment of beloved series turned film franchise “Downton Abbey.” Aptly titled “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” the third film debuted its trailer during CinemaCon, and is now sharing it with audiences everywhere. Julian Fellowes returns to write the installment, which is set in the same universe as his show “The Gilded Age.” Fellowes previously teased that the elusive plot of “The Grand Finale” is “emboldened” by the clock timer invention that takes place in “The Gilded Age.”
The logline for “The Grand Finale” reads: “The time has come to say goodbye to ‘Downton Abbey.’ Focus Features is bringing the beloved Crawley household to theaters for the final installment of the wildly successful franchise written by creator Julian Fellowes.”
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The ensemble cast includes Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Raquel Cassidy, Brendan Coyle, Michelle Dockery, Kevin Doyle, Michael Fox, Joanne Froggatt, Harry Hadden-Paton, Robert James-Collier, Allen Leech, Phyllis Logan, Elizabeth McGovern, Sophie McShera, Lesley Nicol, Alessandro Nivola, Simon Russell Beale, Dominic West, Penelope Wilton, Arty Froushan, Joely Richardson, Paul Copley, and Douglas Reith. Paul Giamatti is also back to reprise his series role, telling EW that his character will “do something of real significance” in the film.
Fellowes returns to write the script, with Simon Curtis back directing. The first “Downton Abbey” film was released in 2019 after the series concluded its six-season run. A sequel feature, “Downton Abbey: A New Era,” was released in 2022. The “Downton Abbey” series earned 69 Emmy nominations during its run and won 15, with the late Maggie Smith winning three acting awards and the show taking home Outstanding Miniseries or Movie, along with awards for hair, production design, music composition, directing, writing, cinematography, and costumes.
Fellowes told IndieWire in 2022 that he was open to returning to the franchise for a third feature if the story was right. “These things become clearer over time, if there is still a demand for more ‘Downton,’ and the actors, if enough of them want to do it,” he said. “I certainly wouldn’t block it. I’ve had five times now of thinking I’ve said goodbye to them and then here they are again.”
“Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” is produced by Fellowes, Liz Trubridge, and Gareth Neame. Nigel Marchant executive produces.
Additional Focus Features films include Chloe Zhao’s “Hamnet,” Ethan Coen’s “Honey Don’t!,” Wes Anderson’s “The Phoenician Scheme,” Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Bugonia,” and Daniel Day-Lewis’ return to acting with “Anemone,” directed by his son Ronan Day-Lewis.
Focus Features will premiere “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” September 12 in theaters. Check out the teaser below.
