The third film instalment, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, is on its way.
The film was written by Julian Fellowes and directed by Simon Curtis, who helmed the second movie.
Downton Abbey followed the aristocratic Crawley family for six seasons on television between 2010 to 2015, then two previous films, 2019’s Downton Abbey and 2022’s Downton Abbey: A New Era, continued the franchise.
Here’s everything we know.
1930 arrives
The first teaser trailer for the film Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, reveals the family are preparing to enter a new chapter as they also enter a new decade.
The trailer begins as the family gathers at a racetrack, where Mr. Carson (Jim Carter) welcomes everyone in attendance to 1930.
Beloved cast returns
Montage scenes from the teaser trailer show the beloved cast of characters returning and hints at some emotional moments that await.
Much of the main cast will return for the third instalment in the Downton Abbey franchise, including Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern and Laura Carmichael.
Paul Giamatti to return
American actor Paul Giamatti has reprised his role as Harold Levinson from a 2013 episode. Dockery said she loved working with him again.
“Working with Paul again was wonderful. He’s so much fun,” she said. “And because he was already part of the family, it was lovely to have him back on set, so I’m really excited to see the final film.”
New cast members
Among the returning cast members are Dominic West, reprising his role as Guy Dexter from the second film. New faces will appear in The Grand Finale, including Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola, Simon Russell Beale and Arty Froushan.
A tribute to Dame Maggie Smith
In the trailer, the family gathers at the Downton Estate, and Lady Mary gazes poignantly at a portrait of Violet Crawley, previously played by the late Maggie Smith.
Violet Crawley, The Dowager Countess, passed away in the second movie, 2022’s Downton Abbey: A New Era, and following Smith’s own passing in September 2024 at the age of 89, the final film has become all the more moving for the cast and fans.
Michelle told Collider: “It’s a beautiful film. For us, it was such a treat to be able to come back together again. It’s a real tribute to Maggie Smith, the film.”
The final goodbye
When the film’s poster was released in March, we knew the film would be bringing 15 years of upstairs-downstairs drama to a close, with the poster reading: “The time has come to say goodbye.”
Dockery admitted to feeling mixed emotions about Downton ending.
She said: “This time around, I think we really relished every minute. It being the last, it felt really, really special. Like anything, when something comes to an end, it’s emotional but just such a happy place to be.”
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Hugh Bonneville explained that the story is wound up and the audience will be saying goodbye to the characters.
Speaking to Chris Evans on his Virgin Radio UK Breakfast Show, the star said: “We finished a third — and I think probably final — ‘Downton Abbey’ film this summer, which will come out next September and that is a wonderful sort of closing off of all the stories, so it’s a proper film for the fans.
“It’s very much set in the house and saying goodbye to all these characters and we obviously say goodbye to Dame Maggie, which was very poignant on screen and now in real life.
“She’ll be sorely missed. But the final film will obviously be a great lasting tribute to her.”
Release date
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale hits cinemas on 12 September 2025.
