The first trailer for Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, the third and final film in the beloved Downton Abbey franchise, is here, bringing a close to the story that began with the acclaimed ITV series in 2010. Set in the summer of 1930, the film centers on Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) as she manoeuvres through the glittering but unforgiving world of London’s high society. Meanwhile, Lord and Lady Grantham (Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern) manage the sprawling Yorkshire estate.
This concluding chapter not only wraps up the film trilogy but also marks the end of over 15 years of storytelling that captivated audiences through six television seasons. Returning to direct is Simon Curtis, who also helmed the previous installment, Downton Abbey: A New Era. The screenplay comes from the series creator and executive producer, Julian Fellowes, whose writing imbues the characters with warmth and complexity.
Alongside Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale features a host of familiar faces from the series and earlier films, including Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, Joanne Froggatt, Phyllis Logan, Penelope Wilton, Paul Giamatti, and Dominic West. New additions to the cast include Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola, Simon Russell Beale, and Arty Froushan, enriching the ensemble with fresh dynamics.
The Downton Abbey saga expanded to the big screen with the 2019 film, followed by A New Era in 2022, both enjoying box office success — the original film grossing $194 million globally. Director Simon Curtis describes Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale as “a loving portrait of the characters as they enter the 1930s, and we really dig into the characters’ emotions at the end of the story we’re telling.” He adds, “I was thrilled because, as a director, I simply love working with actors and this is the greatest ensemble of British actors around; and then you add the amazing guest stars we’ve got and it’s a dream come true.” Central to the plot is Mary’s divorce, a serious scandal for a family of their status during that era, which also reveals her evolution into a formidable businesswoman ready to face the controversy head-on.
Curtis reflects on the emotional depth of the script, saying, “I love those little moments of humanity between the different characters, with the added poignancy that, very often, these moments are their final moments together. Julian has such great humanity, and he gives every character, no matter what their class or their sex or their age, dignity, wit and warmth.”
