Photos Galore!

     The paps and on-lookers were out in droves as the cast stepped out into the sunshine to film a few scenes for the DA movie. From upstairs to team servants and everyone in between, the cast gathered for what appears to be a fantastic formal event adorned with top hats, military uniforms, and a couple cellphones to boot. In previous interviews the cast have gushed over filming scenes such as these because the actors who are typically in the kitchens of the abbey (aka Ealing Studios) are rarely together with the cast upstairs who film primarily at Highclere, therefore these scenes allow for a full cast reunion. Check out some of the great photos below and see if you can start to piece together the plot!

Top L: Hugh Bonneville (Robert) stands at attention and salutes what appears to be the set Oracle, Alastair Bruce
Top R: Kevin Doyle (Molesley) consults with show producer Liz Trubridge
Bottom L: Raquel Cassidy (Mrs. Baxter) grabs a shot of onset love interest Kevin Doyle (Molesley)
Bottom R: Laura Carmichael (Edith) chats it up with Dame Maggie Smith (Violet)

Top L: Laura Carmichael and Harry Hadden-Paton (Bertie) grab a quick coffee
Top R: Jim Carter (Carson)
Bottom L: Lesley Nicol (Mrs. Patmore) and possible Sophie McShera (Daisy)
Bottom R: Hugh Bonneville jumps into the future with camera phone in hand and film publicist Jessica Morris nearby

Top L: Imelda Staunton (character unknown) in a fit of laughter with Maggie Smith
Top R: Harry Hadden-Paton and Michelle Dockery (Mary)
Bottom L: Maggie Smith takes a stroll with Michelle Dockery
Bottom R: Bad Ass Bonneville between shots

The Wife (Michelle Dockery)
Bottom L: Michelle with unidentified actor
Bottom R: Michelle Dockery and Allen Leech (Tom)

From Hugh's IG BonHughBon
Donk and the grandkids
Twins Zac and Oliver (George)
Twins in pink (Marigold)
Top Center: (Sybbie)

From Milkpublicity IG
Publicist Jessica Morris and Hugh Bonneville's go head to head in an on-location photo battle between the Milkmaids at Milk Publicity, with other shots including Victoria Brooks and Una Maguire and Jo Doutch and Richard Dobbs-Grove.
Sorry guys, DA wins, hands (heads?) down, every time

Release Date Confirmed...

...and leaves US fans waiting in the lurch yet again. Focus Feature films has announced the official release dates for the Downton movie as September 13, 2019 for international audiences and September 20th for North American audiences. Because why not? We're used to waiting! We waited months for the series every year, we should have to wait for the film as well, right? Naturally American fans are not responding well to the news, especially with the looming threat of spoilers that will undoubtedly flood the internet before we have the chance to see it (again a battle we knew all too well when the series was released in the UK 6 months earlier). Hat tip to the production company for recreating every inch of our Downton TV experience. Whatever, we get what we get and we don't throw a fit, right? Well, I throw a fit, but I'm maladjusted to navigate minor disappointments like these.

Focus also published the full list of the cast returning as well as the new stars to expect on the big screen for the revival.

Returning cast includes Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, Michelle Dockery, Kevin Doyle, Joanne Froggatt, Matthew Goode, Harry Haden-Paton, Robert James Collier, Allen Leech, Phyllis Logan, Elizabeth McGovern, Sophie McShera, Lesley Nicol, Penelope Wilton and Maggie Smith

New stars include Imelda Staunton, Geraldine James, Simon Jones, David Haig, Tuppence Middleton, Kate Phillips and Steven Campbell Moore

Of course Julian Fellowes has returned to write the script and produce along side Gareth Neame and Liz Trubridge, Michael Engler returns to direct, Brian Percival and Nigel Marchant are executive producing. Sad not to see Chris Croucher, long time producer return for the film, but thankfully much of the old family is back together and we can't wait to see what they'll do. Well, we can wait, we will have to wait, but it will be worth it.

Downton Abbey Movie Set like a School Reunion

By Paul Burnell

BBC News

Shooting the movie version of the TV drama Downton Abbey feels like a "reunion" of a very "happy" school, the show's creator Julian Fellowes has said. The writer was back with the cast at Highclere Castle, Berkshire, to start filming the big screen revival.

He said seeing the reassembled cast in their costumes was a "surreal moment." He said he wasn't daunted by trying to translate the success to a feature film, adding "I hope we've done well and the people will enjoy it." But Lord Fellowes said he wasn't making any assumptions about the potentially tricky transition from the small to the big screen.

"In life you can't be daunted by the fact that it doesn't work out for some people," he told BBC News. "You just have to keep charging on and have a go and do your best...I don't think one should expect everything to be a triumph."

Lord Fellowes is no stranger to Hollywood success, however, having won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Gosford Park in 2002. Going from television to film does present different challenges, he said. 

"[In a series] we usually give the big stories to maybe three characters a week. By the end of the series everyone would have big stories and it would all be plaited together. In a film you can't do that, every character you include must have their own story. The viewer can judge whether or not I have been successful, I wouldn't make any claims."

"I had to make sure every story of character was completed in the movie. That did take a certain amount of jiggery-pokery, but I am pleased with where we came to and very pleased with the reassembled cast. I was at Highclere [where the TV series was shot] on Friday and there was something almost surreal about seeing them back in their costumes. It was a very happy time for us all. It was a big hit all over the world. It was a very nice cast and I think they made a lot of good friends among them so there was something of a reunion like the first day back at school, a very happy school.

Details of the film's plot are being kept tightly under wraps, and Lord Fellowes says he never answers questions about the storyline. Nostalgic fans will have to wait until next year for the Downton Abbey movie to be released.

The TV series ran from 2010 to 2015 winning 15 Emmys and three Golden Globes with the finale watched by almost 11 million people in the UK on Christmas Day in 2015.

Dowager Sighting

The Dowager Countess and the matriarch of the Crawley family was finally spotted on the set of Downton, this is the first sighting of a cast member in costume! Played by Dame Maggie Smith, initially Maggie expressed a reluctance to join the film, but the Downton movie would not be the same without her witty and cutting comebacks and award winning one-liners!

Steam Engine Hugh

On the set of DA
Source: IG Bonhughbon

Tom and Bangarang Mary

Lady Mary debuted some new bangs while hanging with the chauffeur (ahem, former chauffeur) Allen Leech and musician Suzanne Santo out in London last night. Not sure if the new hairstyle is a personal venture for Michelle or if the hair department has ditched the Lady Mary wigs for Michelle's natural tresses but I'm sure we will soon find out! Are you loving the new look?

Who Says You Can't Go Home?

From IG: Theladydockers

     It is official! Downton Abbey has returned and so have I! I cannot begin to express how thrilled I am that this film has finally gotten the green light and they began filming today! The Wife, Michelle Dockery aka Lady Mary posted the first photo from the set (above) while trouble-makers Hugh Bonneville and Allen Leech revealed they ditched the set to go see fellow absentee Elizabeth McGovern in her play God of Carnage. But never fear, the MIA stars will be on set to film their own scenes soon, and Michelle will likely be playing hooky to attend the Emmy's this Sunday as she is nominated for her Netflix mini-series, Godless.

From IG: BonHughBon

     We know very little about the story line but details are seeping out as time goes on. Maggie Smith has been confirmed to return, though her commitment to a film had previously been questionable as she lamented that Violet would be far too old by then to carry on. This hints that the timeline probably follows the end of season 6 rather closely. Mr. Carson's real-life wife Imelda Staunton has been confirmed for the film, but they will sadly be separated in class, as she will reside upstairs and he will remain the happy little retired househusband to Mrs. Hughes at the cottage. Matthew Goode has been confirmed in the script as well, however his part will be much smaller as he has other filming commitments and is expected to pop in at the end. At least Mr. Fellowes didn't kill him off too. Sadly Lily James confirmed that Lady Rose will not be gracing the big screen since she is technically off gallivanting in New York with Atticus and her little baby. In spite of the very hush hush premise for this undoubtedly fantastic movie, Elizabeth McGovern assures us that we will "love it."

Please continue to visit for updates about the film and photos from the set! Thanks and welcome back!