The ‘Downton Abbey’ Movie Sequel Already Has a Script, According to This Cast Member
Downton Abbey fans, rejoice. A sequel to the beloved series’ 2019 feature film is reportedly already underway.
The exciting update came from none other than Mr. Carson himself, actor Jim Carter. In an interview on British morning news show This Morning on Sept. 24, the actor revealed some key information about the sequel’s development.
[Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers for the Downton Abbey 2019 movie.]
The ‘Downtown Abbey’ sequel was dependent on the success of the first film
The first Downton Abbey movie found the show’s original cast anxiously preparing for the arrival of the King and Queen of England, who were traveling to the Downton castle for a dinner with the Crawleys. As with any film, you never know how viewers are going to feel about it, so the sequel—according to Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes—was always dependent upon the first film’s success.
Fellowes told Good Housekeeping at the 2019 premiere that there was a plan for a sequel, but “we need the movie to do well.”
“The challenge we have is that people all over the world have been used to watching it on television but we need them to go out and buy a ticket and see it in cinemas,” Fellowes said. “Only if it has that kind of success will we be able to do any more. We’re optimistic.”
Jim Carter says the cast has already read the ‘Downton Abbey’ movie sequel script
The film was successful, indeed. It received a 94% audience score and 84% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed $193,820,755 worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. That was apparently enough to convince the creators to move forward with the sequel. And Carter told This Morning that the sequel’s script is bound to entertain.
“If you promise not to tell anyone, I’ll let you know that we’ve seen a script,” he revealed. “The script for a second film is there. We’ve seen it, it’s very funny!” He then confirmed that the sequel will see the entire cast from the film return for the follow up.
“It’s got all the same characters in, all the regular characters,” he said. “And I think the will is—COVID willing—we’ll film it next year.” Don’t hold your breath for any spoilers from Carter, however.
“I’m not going to give anything away about plot lines!” he told the show’s hosts.
Mrs. Hughes actor Phyllis Logan also wants a ‘Downton Abbey’ movie sequel
Phyllis Logan, who played Mr. Carson’s counterpart Mrs. Hughes in the series and film, told Showbiz Cheat Sheet in 2019 that she thinks there are still Downton stories left to be told.
“I think people still have an appetite for that household and the people within it and that castle,” Logan said. “I think people still have an appetite to see how their lives are going. And quite frankly, I do think that everybody involved, directors, producers, writers, all the crew and certainly all the cast would be all much up for a number two as it were.”
Clearly, Fellowes agrees.
