What if Downton Abbey had a few more surprises in store...? Just when we thought we'd said our final goodbyes to the Crawley family and their staff in 2015 (but especially after two films, the last of which was released in 2022), the Daily Mail announces an unexpected return of the iconic series! Rumor has it that the famous mansion will once again open its doors for a seventh season. Unless it's a movie? That's what actress Imelda Staunton(Lady Bagshaw in the series) announced on BBC Radio 2:"There's going to be a final film, and that's that," she declared on March 20.
This information was confirmed by the production itself, in a tweet published on May 13, 2024.
A real blow for aficionados of the series, who had been content with two films to prolong the pleasure. A new season, if confirmed, scheduled for broadcast in late 2024, is shrouded in mystery, with an unprecedented level of confidentiality. The cast and crew are bound by non-disclosure agreements, fuelling the enthusiasm and curiosity of fans.
The announcement of season 7 is all the more surprising given that series creator Julian Fellowes had hinted that the Downton Abbey project might have come to an end, despite its undisputed success both on the small screen and at the box office. However, according to a source telling the Daily Mail, filming has already begun, plunging the set into an atmosphere of absolute secrecy. The big question is whether the series' iconic figures, such as Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern and Michelle Dockery, will reprise their roles.
The return of Downton Abbey would therefore be a major event for ITV, the channel that broadcast the first six seasons. But that's not all: according to Julian Fellowes, the series could also be extended via spin-offs on characters from the series:"Nothing is ever definitive. There could be a spin-off with some of the younger characters," he explained to the Daily Mail last January. A return that could not only delight fans of the series, but also attract a younger audience, curious to discover the new intrigues that will unfold within the prestigious mansion. All we can do now is wait for confirmation.
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