'Downton Abbey' Season 6 Release Date, Movie Latest News: Creator Confirms He Is Writing The Script For Film
There's hope for "Downton Abbey" fans. Though the British drama series ends with the upcoming sixth season, it's starting to sound like the "Downton Abbey" movie project fans have been hearing about is getting more traction.
In March, executive producer Gareth Neame spoke to Variety, saying that while there are no concrete plans as yet, he and show creator Julian Fellowes were considering the idea of a movie or of a spinoff series. "Our position on that is that we would be very interested in that," he said. He added: "It is definitely something that we're contemplating. It would be great fun to do. I think it would be a wonderful extension."
Now, Fellowes himself has weighed in on the speculation and spoken up about his desire to extend the storyline of the Crawleys. "I truly hope there will be a film of 'Downton'. I mean, that's what I really want," he told Vulture.
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He admitted that there is still a long way to go before the project is green-lighted, so he's currently just focused on writing the script. He explained: "So much of this depends on the script. For me, it's the real key here." Fellowes went on: "This holds a great deal of interest for me, because I still have more to say with 'Downton.' I see this transitioning to film quite well, and I certainly am the person to tell this story."
But though there's still quite a wait before 'Downton' fans get official confirmation that the movie will or will not be made, actors have already spoken up about whether or not they would return for the movie. So far, there is one key character who has said that she won't be coming back. On the Graham Norton Show, Dame Maggie Smith, who plays Violet, the feisty Dowager Countess, shattered the hearts of fans everywhere, saying, "I can't." She asked, "What age would she be?"
The sixth and final season of "Downton Abbey" will end with the Season 6 Christmas Special, which will air in the U.K. on Christmas day. In the U.S., "Downton Abbey Season 6" will premiere on PBS on Jan. 3, 2016.
