Our prayers for an update on the glamorous Crawley family have been answered.
According to EW, a film is officially in the works.
While it feels like weโve been waiting for eternity for a Downton Abbey movie to hit the silver screen, itโs actually only been two years since the series wrapped up with that flawless Christmas special.
Michael Edelstein, president of NBCUniversal International Studios, told the Associated Press on Wednesday that the movie has โbeen in the works for some timeโ.
โWe are working on getting the script right and then weโve got to figure out how to get the [cast] together,โ Michael said.
While this all sounds positive, he wasnโt able to give a precise date to lock in the calendar, adding that, โWeโre hopeful to make a movie sometime next yearโ.
We suppose we can wait that longโฆ
Despite confirmation from the big wigs, it seems like nobody has passed on the good news to the cast as of yet.
โYouโve got confirmation before us,โ Sophie McShera, who plays Daisy, told the AP before adding, โWe would all love to be part of the film if it was to happen, for sure.โ
Laura Charmichael, who plays Lady Edith also expressed her surprise at official confirmation for a film. โTell my agent, because weโre still wanting to know,โ she said.
Creator Julian Fellows has previously teased that a Downton movie was always likely to happen, admitting that he had worked on the script before there was any word of a green light for the project.
Earlier this year, Maggie Smith, who plays the Dowager Countess, shared her thoughts on how the Downton movie could begin. Alas, it wouldnโt be great news for her characterโฆ
โI could croak it. It would just start with the body. But I donโt know,โ she said at the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival.
We certainly hope thatโs not the case, Downton Abbey just wouldnโt be the same without Maggie Smith.