The Crawley family cordially invites you to what they promise will be a cinematic event. The first teaser for “Downton Abbey,” the film adaptation and continuation of the long-running ITV and PBS series, has just dropped. And it’s a regal, impressive first look.
In the teaser, the maids are making the beds, they’re crossing their Ts on all the signatures, and the bell is ringing at the front gate for guests to arrive.
While the plot is unknown for the new film, the original series followed the Crawley family and the servants who worked for them at the turn of the 20th century in an Edwardian English country home.
Nearly the whole cast is returning for the film, including Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Michelle Dockery, Joanne Froggatt, Matthew Goode, Allen Leech, Elizabeth McGovern, and Maggie Smith.
Imelda Staunton, Geraldine James, Simon Jones, David Haig, Tuppence Middleton, Kate Phillips, and Stephen Campbell Moore have all joined the cast of the film directed by Michael Engler, who most recently directed “The Chaperone.” Engler took over the directing duties from Brian Percival.
Series creator Julian Fellowes, who won an Oscar for the 2002 Robert Altman film “Gosford Park,” is writing the screenplay. His show lasted six seasons and won 15 Emmys from 69 nominations — more than any non-American show — on top of three Golden Globes. The show left the air in December 2015.
Focus Features will release the film in the U.K. on Sept. 13, 2019, followed by an American release on Sept. 20. Watch the teaser above.