Downton Abbey revival rumours explained – is the ITV hit returning?
The period drama was a fan favourite.
Rumours have continued to spread about a return of classic period drama Downton Abbey, just weeks after a report claimed the drama was coming back to TV.
Downton Abbey was last on screens in 2015 and since then fans have had their fair share of high society dramas, from the likes of Bridgerton and Belgravia, to Vanity Fair and The Gilded Age, but nothing has ever filled the Downton shaped hole in people's hearts.
And now with speculation of it returning for a third movie in addition to another season, it begs the question if it's too good to be true.
So, is Downtown Abbey coming back? Read on for all we know so far.
Is Downton Abbey returning for season 7?
As reported by MailOnline, the period drama was said to be making a "surprise comeback", with filming apparently already under way and bosses hoping to bring back the likes of Hugh Bonneville and Michelle Dockery.
Despite the rumours, RadioTimes.com understands that there are no immediate plans for new episodes of Downton Abbey.
There is still hope though, as creator Julian Fellowes said as recently as last year that he wouldn't definitively rule out returning to the franchise.
Speaking on TalkRadio, as reported by The Sun, Fellowes said: "I have said goodbye to Downton so many times, and I have written the last scene about six or seven times.
"Now I've got out of the habit of making permanent statements whether it's gone. It just gives me a lot of pleasure that so many people enjoyed it, so to feel that you created a show that cheers people up and they had a good time with it, I love that."
Downton Abbey ran for six seasons between 2010 and 2015, and returned for two films in 2019 and 2022.
Is Downton Abbey returning for a new movie?
Following on from the TV return speculation, The Sun claimed that a third Downton Abbey movie is being made, and is apparently scheduled to start filming over summer 2024.
The publication is reporting that filming for a third movie will be under way within months, with the same creative team and cast expected to return this summer.
According to the report, it is expected to pick up where the sequel left off in the late 1920s.
RadioTimes.com has approached representatives for comment, but it's important to note there has been no official confirmation of a new film yet, so treat these as rumours for now.
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Authors
Katelyn Mensah is the Entertainment and Factual Writer for Radio Times, covering all major entertainment programmes, reality TV shows and the latest hard-hitting documentaries. She previously worked at The Tab, with a focus on reality TV and showbiz news and has obtained a BA (Hons) in Journalism.
