UPDATE
Stop the presses — the British presses. I’m told the UK papers like the Daily Mail are WRONG!!!!!
Is Downton Abbey returning? Maybe, as a movie, but not as a TV series.
No no no says my insiders. “A third movie is being developed.” No series. Go that?
That’s my EXCLUSIVE. A movie makes more sense anyway.
When the second movie ended, Branson got married to a Crawley cousin and is now in position to run the dynasty. Lady Mary was trying to find her wayward second husband (Matthew Goode), and Maggie Smith bowed out as the grouchy, fun Dowager Countess.
A few years have passed. When the movie ended it was 1925. “Downton” moves so slowly they could certainly plod on to 1929 when the stock market crashes and the Crawley’s fortunes will change. But four years in “Downton” time could be seven seasons!
Will all the actors return? Well, not Smith. But everyone else is available and no doubt ready. Only Imelda Staunton, who played Lady Bagshaw, might be tricky since she’s going to star in “Hello, Dolly!” in the West End. But considering that she’s married in real life to Carson (Jim Carter) she could be persuaded to succeed Smith as a nosy mother-in-law. Penelope Wilton’s Isobel needs someone to trade barbs with.
“Downton” is also full of second generation Crawleys just waiting to get in trouble. So Julian Fellowes has a lot to work with.
Stay tuned…
