Downton Abbey is back – and bigger than ever. The hit TV series has moved to the big screen and fans are desperate to discover who will return to the estate. Here is everything Express.co.uk knows about the new film.
Who is in the cast of Downton Abbey?
In a special featurette, released ahead of the film, Downton Abbey cook Mrs Patmore (played by Lesley Nicol) gives a run down of who is who in the upcoming film.
According to Lesley, Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern are back as Robert and Cora Crawley.
He is preparing to hand his estate to his eldest daughter, Lady Mary Talbot (played by Michelle Dockery).
Mary has been groomed by her grandmother and dowager, Violet Crawley (played by Maggie Smith) to take over the estate, much to the chagrin of her sister and second in line Lady Edith Pelham (played by Laura Carmichael).
Tom Branson, played by Allen Leech, is back, and judging by the trailer may have some love interests in the film.
Finally, in the upstairs group, Isobel Grey (played by Penelope Wilton) will be back for some witty banter with the Dowager, along with Mary and Edith’s husband Henry Talbot (played by Matthew Goode) and Bertie Pelham (played by Harry Hadden-Paton).
Downstairs, Mrs Hughes (Phyllis Logan) runs things, though she is now called Mrs Carson after her marriage to the now retired butler Mr Carson (Jim Carter).
Carson passed on his duties to Thomas Barrow (Rob James-Collier) who is back as the rebellious head butler.
John Bates and Anna Bates, played by Brendan Coyle and Joanna Froggatt, are also back as Lord Grantham’s valet and Lady Mary’s personal maid.
Chef Mrs Patmore (Lesley Nicol) is back with her staff including Daisy (Sophie McShera), Michael C Fox as footman Andy and Kevin Doyle as Moseley.
Along with our favourites, there are also new characters including King George V and Queen Mary, who are played by Simon Jones and Geraldine James.
Kate Phillips plays Princess Mary and Imelda Staunton makes a turn as Lady Maud Bagshaw.
There are also love interests for Tom Branson and Thomas Barrow, with Tuppence Middleton and Stephen Campbell Moore playing Lucy Smith and Captain Chetwode.
Finally, downstairs also get some new characters, including David Haig as the butler to the King and Queen, as well as Philippe Spall as the royal chef.
Who is behind the scenes on Downton Abbey?
As with the television series, Julian Fellowes has produced and written the script for the film.
It is directed by Michael Engler, who directed some episodes of the finale series, including the finale itself.
He went on to direct The Chaperone, a period film also written by Julian Fellowes and starring Elizabeth McGovern, following the life of a teenage Louise Brooks.
Downton Abbey comes out in cinemas on September 13