In what I can only describe as utter fan service, Downton Abbey has announced a second film, a followup to its 2019 jump to the big screen. If it’s not called Downton Abbey 2: Here We Go Again, or Downton Abbey 2: Electric Boogaloo, then what’s the point? This franchise is fast becoming ye ol’ Mamma Mia, if you ask me. And I mean that in the best way possible – Mamma Mia didn’t need a sequel, but I still watched it in Gold Class with Mum and absolutely frothed it.
Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes and the “entire Downton cast” will return for Downton Abbey 2, which I assume means Michelle Dockery (Mary), Hugh Bonneville (Robert), Laura Carmichael (Edith), Elizabeth McGovern (Cora), Jim Carter (Mr. Carson), Allen Leech (Tom), and the rest of them. There’s too many, too many!
Also, now I assume Maggie Smith will be in it, even though I thought her character arc ended for good at the end of the first movie. Oh well! Anything’s possible at Downton, I suppose.
What will the sequel be about? Your guess is as good as mine, to be honest.
Downton Abbey will also welcome a couple of newcomers to its humble abode, including Hugh Dancy (Hannibal), Laura Haddock (Honest), Nathalie Baye (The Guardians), and Dominic West.
As an aside, we’ve yet to hear if Lily James will reprise her beloved Downton character, Rose Aldridge, which could be just a wee awkward after those cheating allegations about herself and Dominic from last year.
*Insert side eye emoji here*
Lily didn’t appear in the first Downton movie because of scheduling conflicts or whatnot, so who knows if she’ll be in the sequel.
In Downton Abbey, the Crawley family and their staff prepare for a royal visit from King George V and Queen Mary… plus 42 other plot lines, including an illegal gay bar! A shock pregnancy! An assassination attempt! A thief at the Abbey! Oh, la, la.
The film is streaming now on Netflix and you can find Downton Abbey, seasons 1 to 6, on Amazon Prime Video.
The sequel is expected to premiere in cinemas this Christmas.
This is neither here nor there, but how good is it to read and write “in cinemas” again?
