Laura Carmichael, Imelda Staunton and Maggie Smith inDownton Abbey(2019).Photo:Liam Daniel/Focus Features/Kobal/Shutterstock
Liam Daniel/Focus Features/Kobal/Shutterstock
MoreDownton Abbeyis on the way!
ActressImelda Stauntonspilled the beans toBBC Radio 2breakfast show hostZoe Ball, when asked about reports that more would be coming.
“Therewill be the final film— there you go,” said Staunton, 68, on the show Wednesday morning.
“Wow, that’s pretty huge. I hope we haven’t got you in trouble,” joked Ball, to which the actress (who plays Lady Maud Bagshaw in the movies) quipped in response, “I don’t care.”
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Imelda Staunton inDownton Abbey(2019).Jaap Buitendijk / Focus Features
Jaap Buitendijk / Focus Features
The firstDownton Abbeyfilm picks up where the series left off, in 1927, while the sequel —Downton Abbey: A New Era— takes place directly after, in 1928.
PEOPLE celebrated the latter movie with aDownton Abbeyspecial editionfeaturing exclusive cast and creator interviews, an oral history of the series and behind-the-scenes photos of the big-screen sequel, in which the time shift is seen in shorter hemlines, talking pictures and the family itself.
“What’s lovely in the new film is that you see Mary and Edith much more settled and really matured as women, and their relationship has evolved,” saidMichelle Dockery, who plays Lady Mary.
She added, “There are less jabs between the two of them. Maybe it’s because they live apart — that’s helpful!”
Downton Abbey: A New Era(2022).Ben Blackall / Focus Features
Ben Blackall / Focus Features
Laura Carmichael(Lady Edith) was among those enjoying the sun and two-week poolside pre-filmingquarantinein France.
“We had a really fun time, especially with the crew — it was a real gift,” she told PEOPLE. “I feel for the cast that didn’t have that story line, because we had a wonderful time.”
The films also featureHugh Dancy,Dominic West,Maggie Smith,Laura Haddock,Hugh Bonneville,Elizabeth McGovernand Staunton’s longtime husbandJim Carter, who plays head butler Mr. Carson.
Universal Pictures and Focus Features did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Thursday.
source: people.com
