Fans of Downton Abbey were overjoyed this week, when the series was finally confirmed to return for a long-awaited feature film. Rumours of a movie re-boot for the British period drama have been around since the series ended in 2015.
While most of the main cast are expected to return, there is one major actress who won’t be stepping back in to her 1920s shoes.
Lily James, who currently stars in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, won’t be reprising her role as Lady Rose MacClaire.
The 27-year-old actress confirmed to People she is not returning for the film, though she claims the reason “wasn’t schedules.”
“I’m sadly not [returning], but I’m so excited for it — I’m going to be front row,” Lily says.
Lily James as Lady Rose in Downton Abbey.
“My character Rose moved off to New York, so it would be far-fetched to bring her back,” Lily tells the publication.
“I would have loved to have come back for a scene, but for a movie it can’t be like a Christmas special and it needs to be a focused storyline. There was no space for Rose.”
“It’s going to be really exciting. And the whole gang is coming back,” Lily says of the film.
Elizabeth McGovern and Lily James as Cora Crawley and Lady Rose.
The ‘gang’, of course, refers to other main cast members who are returning. Maggie Smith (Dowager Countess Violet Crawley), Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary Crawley), Hugh Bonneville (Robert Crawley), Laura Carmichael (Lady Edith Crawley), Joanne Froggatt (Anna Bates) and Elizabeth McGovern (Cora Crawley) are all set to reprise their roles.
Also back are creator Julian Fellowes – who has written the film’s screenplay and will produce alongside Gareth Neame and Liz Trubridge – and director Brian Percival, who directed the show’s original pilot.
“When the television series drew to a close it was our dream to bring the millions of global fans a movie and now, after getting many stars aligned, we are shortly to go into production. Julian’s script charms, thrills and entertains and in Brian Percival’s hands we aim to deliver everything that one would hope for as Downton comes to the big screen,” says producer Gareth Neame.
The Crawley sisters from Downton Abbey.
No release date has been confirmed yet, though a social media post announcing the film’s production was shared on the official Downton Abbey social media channels.
It revealed filming would begin this ‘summer’ in the UK.
Stay tuned for more updates!
