Michelle Dockery is ’emotional’ reuniting with Downton Abbey co-stars

Michelle Dockery revealed it was ’emotional’ reuniting with her Downton Abbey co-stars as the cast sat down for the first table read for the third film this week.

The Lady Mary actress, 42, appeared in a new video on Tuesday where she shared her excitement over the next instalment.

The clip showed the cast – including Jim Carter (Mr Carson) and Tom Branson (Allen Leech) – all hugging each other as they started work on the new project. 

Speaking to the camera Michelle then said: ‘It feels amazing and emotional. It’s wonderful all to be back together again. 

‘You come back together and you feel like no time has passed at all. 

‘We’re so happy to announce that we’re in production for the third Downton Abbey movie. We can’t wait to see you!’ 

Downton Abbey will return for a third film with big name stars joining the cast for the latest instalment, it was confirmed on Monday.

The beloved period drama will also welcome the return of fan favourites including   Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle and Laura Carmichael.

The third instalment was first let slip early by actress Imelda Staunton, who unashamedly announced that there would definitely be a ‘third and final’ film.

The news was then confirmed by the show runners on Monday, who announced that there would be a ‘third film in the beloved Downton Abbey franchise’.

Academy-award winning writer Julian Fellowes is returning, while Emmy Award nominee Simon Curtis will direct again after helming the second film.

Simon directed 2022’s Downton Abbey: A New Era, which followed the Grantham family as Lady Violet Crawley revealed she was given a villa in the South of France.

Much of the film was set in the idyllic location, as the family adapted to the news that Violet was bequeathing the property to her great-granddaughter, Sybbie.

Violet wanted to ensure that Sybbie, who is the daughter of the late Lady Sybil Crawley and Tom Branson, was as financially stable as her wealthy cousins.

Little to nothing is known about the plot for the new film, which will also see Dominic West reprise his role as Guy Dexter from A New Era.

Meanwhile, Paul Giamatti is reprising his role as Cora Grantham’s brother Harold Levinson. He joins the film on the heels of his Oscar-nominated performance in Alexander Payne’s award-winning comedy, The Holdovers.

Other returning stars include Jim Carter, Phyllis Logan, Robert James-Collier, Joanne Froggatt, Allen Leech, Penelope Wilton, Lesley Nicol and Michael Fox.

Also set to return for the new film are Raquel Cassidy, Brendan Coyle, Kevin Doyle, Harry Hadden-Paton, Sophie McShera and Douglas Reith.

The film will also star exciting new additions Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola, Simon Russell Beale, Arty Froushan, and many other fan favourites.

Imelda, 68, who plays one of Queen Mary‘s ladies-in-waiting Lady Maud Bagshaw in the much-loved TV show and movie, spilled the news about the film in February.

Zoe, 53, said: ‘Lots of people are asking me because obviously Jim [Carter] is your chap. Do you know about Downton, and the rumours? There’s more coming. Have we… yes? There is? What do you know? What can you say?’

Without hesitation, Imelda said: ‘Right. There will be… the final… film. There you go.’

Zoe gasped: ‘Wow! That’s it, that’s all she’s got but that’s pretty huge Imelda! Fantastic – I hope we haven’t got you in any trouble at all.’

Imelda grinned: ‘I don’t care!’

Zoe added: ‘You don’t care anyway. You’re wild like that and I love it! You get to that point in life and you’re like ‘I don’t care anyway’.’

Imelda has starred in the movie with her real-life actor husband Jim – who plays butler the family’s butler Carson.

Downton Abbey’s first two flicks totaled a whopping £220million at the Box Office. 

The first film, in 2019, starred Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern as the Earl and Countess of Grantham. 

Along with Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess, they both returned in the 2022 sequel, Downton Abbey: A New Era, which saw the action divided between the stately home and the South of France.

The ITV drama series itself debuted in 2010 and ran until 2015, with the first of the two films being released in 2019. 

However just weeks after the Mail revealed there would be a seventh series of the show after eight years away, The Sun has reported that filming is also scheduled to begin on a third film.

The same cast and behind-the-scenes team are set to make a return to set in Highclere Castle, Hampshire, where the new movie will pick up from where the second ended – in the late 1920s.

The film, made by Carnival Films, should see the whole cast return, which is something that had supposedly been a logistical challenge. 

‘There has been endless speculation about whether there would be a third movie and when it would be released, but finally devotees have had their prayers answered,’ and insider told the publication.

‘The first two films proved such a success that a third one seemed inevitable, but the biggest problem was the logistics of bringing the cast back together as their diaries are all so packed.’

The sequel is said to be beginning filming in summer, set for an international release in 2025.