DOWNTOWN Abbey’s movie trailer has finally arrived – just under a year after it was first confirmed that a film could potentially be in the works.
The motion picture is hitting the UK big screen in September and fans can’t contain their excitement – but not every original cast member will return. Find out who won’t be back below…
ITV
Who is in the cast of the Downton Abbey movie?
The Downton Abbey movie will see the return of original cast members including…
Maggie Smith – The Dowager
Maggie Smith, 83, will return as the sharp-tongued Violet Crawley, the Countess of Grantham.
Her acting career which has spanned over 66 years has seen her appear in a wide range of TV, film and stage roles.
In the Harry Potter film series she played Minerva McGonagall and also starred in Clash Of The Titans, Evil Under The Sun and Death On The Nile.
She has won four BAFTA awards for Best Actress including one for her role in The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (1987).
Michelle Dockery – Lady Mary Crawley
Landmark Media
Michelle Dockery, 36, will return as Lady Mary Crawley.
At the end of Downtown Abbey, her character married Henry Talbot.
Michelle made her professional stage debut with a role in His Dark Materials in 2004.
She’s also had starring roles in films, such as Hanna (2011), Anna Karenina (2012), and Non-Stop (2014).
Laura Carmichael – Lady Edith Crawley
Laura Carmichael, 31, will reprise her role as Lady Edith Crawley.
Lady Edith had a bumpy road to her happy ending but finally married Herbert Pelham to become the Marchioness of Hexham.
In 2016 Laura also starred in the ITV drama Marcella and the film A United Kingdom.
She made her West End debut in 2012 when she starred in Uncle Vanya alongside Anna Friel and Samuel West.
Hugh Bonneville – Earl of Grantham
PA:Press Association
Hugh Bonneville, 54, will be back for the film as Downton Patriarch Robert Crawley.
He studied theology at Cambridge University and began his acting career on stage with the Nation Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company.
Hugh has also appeared in a number of films including Notting Hill, Tomorrow Never Dies and Paddington.
In 1998 he married Lulu Evans and the pair have a son together.
Joanne Froggat – Anna Bates
Joanne Froggat, 37, is set to return for the Downton Abbey movie as Lady Mary’s maid Anna Bates.
The role earned her a Golden Globe award for Best Supporting Actress on Television in 2014.
Her early TV appearances include roles in Coronation Street (1997-98), Bad Girls (1999) and A Touch Of Frost (2003).
She has also appeared in a number of films including A Street Cat Named Bob in 2016.
ITV
Is Lily James returning as Lady Rose for the Downton Abbey film?
Lily James won’t be returning for the Downton Abbey film.
Speaking to People magazine she said: “My character Rose moved off to New York, so it would be far-fetched to bring her back.”
“I would have loved to have come back for a scene, but for a movie, it can’t be like a Christmas special and it needs to be a focused storyline. There was simply no space for Rose.”
Lady Rose married Atticus Aldridge at the end of the final series of Downton Abbey in 2015.
