Two years on since Downton Abbey: A New Era hit cinemas and a third movie is finally on the way.
Appearing on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show with Zoe Ball this morning, Imelda Staunton (Lady Bagshaw), who features in the period drama with her real-life husband Jim Carter (Mr Carson), let the news slip today.
The host asked her: “Obviously Jim is your chap, is there more coming? [seeing her nod] YES, What do you know? What can you say?”
Imelda confirmed Downton Abbey 3, saying: “There will be the final film – there you go.” Zoe replied, “Wow, that’s pretty huge. I hope we haven’t got you in trouble”, to which the actress simply said: “I don’t care.”
If that wasn’t enough, a new report claims an Oscar-nominated actor is returning to the cast after 11 years.
According to The Sun, Paul Giamatti has signed a mega-money deal to star in Downton Abbey 3. The 56-year-old was Oscar-nominated as Best Actor in The Holdovers at the Academy Awards this year, losing out to Oppenheimer’s Cillian Murphy.
An insider shared: “Downton fans will recognise Paul from the last time he starred in Downton Abbey in the 2013 TV series [Christmas Special], playing Harold Levinson, the brother of the Countess of Grantham.”
The source added: “But getting him back is still something of a coup for the creative team because since then his career has seen him become even more in demand. That’s only going to increase since he was nominated for his Best Actor Oscar. But he has now committed to being a part of the new Downton film.”
Most of the cast and crew return to Highclere Castle to start shooting Downton Abbey 3 this May, so presumably it will release in 2025 given the three year gaps between the other two films.