With the Downton Abbey film coming to Blu-ray shelves just in time for the holidays, talk of a sequel has begun.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Carnival Films president Gareth Neame revealed early development for a sequel has begun as they are currently crafting a story for the follow up. Downton Abbey originally ran for six seasons and the film proved to be a huge success for Carnival and Focus Features at the box office.
Speaking with THR on the possibilities of more Downton Abbey, Neame said “We’re having those conversations. We’re working on what the story is, and when we might be able to make it. But it’s the same as the first time around: We have to try to get everyone back together again. And that was very challenging.”
He also believes a sequel will be a bit easier to make after the first film now that there is renewed confidence for more of the show, though the difficult is getting its large ensemble cast back together. “It’ll be smoother in one sense — that it’s now hopefully a proven concept. It’s not one of those shows that came from TV and then flopped in the cinema. So I think that will give everyone comfort that, yes, we know it works. But the challenge will be, is everyone available at the same time? Can we make deals with them? That will be the challenge.”
The television series Downton Abbey followed the lives of the Crawley family and the servants who worked for them at the turn of the 20th century in an Edwardian English country house. Over its 6 seasons, the series garnered 3 Golden Globe Awards, 15 Primetime Emmy Awards, 69 Emmy nominations in total, making Downton Abbey the most nominated non-US television show in the history of the Emmys – even earning a Special BAFTA award and a Guinness World Record for the highest critically rated TV show along the way.
Downton Abbey sees Michael Engler directing a cast that includes Hugh Bonneville, Maggie Smith Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, Michelle Dockery, Kevin Doyle, Joanne Froggatt, Matthew Goode, Harry Hadden-Paton, David Haig, Geraldine James, Robert James-Collier, Simon Jones, Michael Fox, Allen Leech, Phyllis Logan, Elizabeth McGovern, Sophie McShera, Tuppence Middleton, Stephen Campbell Moore, Lesley Nicol, Kate Phillips, Imelda Staunton, and Penelope Wilton.