All the Photos from the DA Movie so Far

Maureen Lee Lenker

Entertainment Weekly

The Downton Abbey Movie is getting closer by the day. With its scheduled Sept. 20 release date, the film is poised to bring back all of our favorite characters for a feature length story that picks up approximately 18 months after where the series ended. Details have been slow to emerge but so far six tantalizing images have given us a glimpse into what to expect. 

Be still our Downton loving hearts. This tender image of a romantic moment between Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) and Henry Talbot (Matthew Goode) was a special Valentine's Day treat when the official Downton twitter account released it on the romantic holiday. Mary and Henry still appear to be very much in love, though what has second marriage and renewed motherhood done to Mary's once chic and stylish bob?!

While Mary's romantic travails dominated much of the Downton drama, the steadfast couple that will always and forever be our OTP is Anna (Joann Froggatt) and Bates (Brendan Coyle). They've had their share of drama (prison time! murder accusations! sexual assault!) so it's refreshing to see them enjoy a tender, quiet moment together. All is seemingly well in this other image released on Valentine's Day.

Edith (Laura Carmichael) is seen returning to Downton with husband Bertie Pelham (Harry Hadden-Patton) and daughter Marigold in this exclusive EW first look. "The two of them are adapting to being a married couple and to her being a lady of one of these great houses," director Michael Englar told EW. "It brings with it much more responsibility and protocol than she was raised with at Downton...On one level they're these modern people in their training and expectations, but then they are in the roles of these very elevated, cultural positions." 

For some time, fans worried Maggie Smith might not return to bring her signature one-liners to the big screen because Smith herself said she feared the character would be too old to continue. But she's back and better than ever. "She feels very much the same in this. She represents the oldest of the old guard," remarked Engler. "She has a beautiful line in the film where she says to Mary, 'One must have standards but one must not be inflexible.' That's what she always stood for."

It seems Mary and Henry are as much in love than ever, if not more so. "What you see is her for once being settled," actress Michelle Dockery told EW of Mary's romance. "They're very supportive of one another and they're good friends. It's nice to see Mary in that way as opposed to being in constant turmoil about her love life."

When the series ended, it seemed Carson (Jim Carter) would be permanently entering retirement with his worsening health, but this photo suggests he's returned to his post at Downton. When it comes to Carson, Engler hinted "Let's just say his brief retirement has been very good for his health and when this event happens and all hands are needed on deck, he's called into service and he becomes part of the success of the story."

DA Movie "Turns the Volume Up!"

Kelly Lawler
USA Today

The Crawleys are coming back, somehow. The beloved upstairs/downstairs period drama Downton Abbey, which aired on PBS from 2011-2016 continues its story as a feature film due in theaters September 20th.

Excited fans know next to nothing about what the lords, ladies, and valets will be up to in the film. All the cast members aren't much help.

I don't even know what else I can tell you," actress Laura Carmichael, who plays Edith Crawley, told reporters at the Television Critics Association Tuesday. "What can I remember that's been released? There's some new exciting people, which was dreamy. New cast members which you'll love and enjoy."

Carmichael, who was promoting a role as yet another English noble in Starz's upcoming The Spanish Princess, also promised the film will satisfy fans who have to buy a movie ticket to see the story.

"I think everyone will be pleased that we've upped the ante. Turned the volume up." For the cast, "it was really magic to see each other and see each other become those characters again, like seeing Jim (Carter) become Carson and seeing Phyllis (Logan) become Mrs. Hughes. It gave us all a thrill."

The actress has no idea whether this will end the Downton saga. "That is certainly a question for Lord Fellowes," she said, referring to series creator Julian Fellowes. "I can't speak for other people. But I can say we all had a dreamy time, it was lush."