Downton Abbey 3 Will Include ‘Meaningful’ Tribute to the Late Maggie Smith

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As a dedicated Downton Abbey enthusiast who has watched every heart-wrenching episode and wept at every poignant moment, I eagerly await the release of Downton Abbey 3. The news of Maggie Smith’s passing has undoubtedly added an emotional depth to the film that was not originally planned, making it even more bittersweet for fans like myself.

Gareth Neame, the executive producer, shared insights about how the demise of Maggie Smith impacted the production process for the upcoming Downton Abbey 3 movie, which is set to hit theaters on September 12, 2025, under Focus Features’ distribution.

Before Smith’s death in September at the age of 89, she was last depicted as Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey: A New Era. Although her character met her end in the 2022 film, Neame has hinted that her influence will continue in Downton Abbey 3, with viewers getting a glimpse of how the death of Downton’s matriarch impacts the remaining characters.

Since Dame Maggie has sadly passed away since then, her death has added a deeper emotional impact to our planned storyline. It’s as if the loss of the Dowager is being mirrored by the actors portraying characters who are grieving their family matriarch. Yet, I also sense that the actors are mourning the loss of Maggie, the show’s matriarch, which makes their performances more authentic and poignant.

Who’s involved in Downton Abbey 3?

In the upcoming Downton Abbey 3, fans can look forward to familiar faces like Hugh Bonneville as Robert Crawley, Elizabeth McGovern as Cora Crawley, Michelle Dockery as Mary, Laura Carmichael as Edith, Jim Carter as Carson, Phyllis Logan as Elsie, and many others. This includes Robert James-Collier as Thomas, Joanne Froggatt as Anna, Allen Leech as Tom, Penelope Wilton as Isobel, Lesley Nicol as Beryl, Michael Fox as Andy, Raquel Cassidy as Phyllis, Brendan Coyle as John Bates, Kevin Doyle as Joseph Moseley, Harry Hadden-Paton as Bertie, Sophie McShera as Daisy, and Douglas Reith as Dickie. Additionally, Paul Giamatti and Dominic West will return to their roles from Seasons 3-4 and the 2022 movie. Newcomers to the cast include Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola, Simon Russell Beale, and Arty Froushan.

The movie is currently being helmed by Emmy-nominated director Simon Curtis from a script penned by Julian Fellowes. At this point, specifics about the third installment’s storyline are being tightly guarded. It is being produced by Julian Fellowes, Gareth Neame, and Liz Trubridge. The production company is Carnival Films, with Focus Features and Universal Pictures International handling distribution.

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2024-12-27 18:40