Oscar nominee Imelda Staunton, who has triumphed on the London stage in recent revivals of Sweeney Todd, Gypsy, and Follies, has joined the cast for the forthcoming film continuation of the acclaimed TV series Downton Abbey.
In addition to the original principal cast from the series—including Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, and Hugh Bonneville—the film will also feature Geraldine James (Anne with an E, Beast), Simon Jones (The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Brideshead Revisited), David Haig (Killing Eve, Penny Dreadful), Tuppence Middleton (War and Peace, The Imitation Game), Kate Phillips (Peaky Blinders, The Crown), and Stephen Campbell Moore (History Boys, Lark Rise to Candleford).
Oscar winner Julian Fellowes (book writer of Mary Poppins and School of Rock), who created Downton Abbey and wrote the film’s screenplay, will produce alongside Gareth Neame and Liz Trubridge. Brian Percival, who directed the series’ pilot, will executive produce the movie, with Michael Engler returning to direct. Nigel Marchant also executive produces.
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The television series, which followed the lives of the Crawley family and the servants who worked for them at the turn of the 20th century, garnered three Golden Globe Awards, 15 Primetime Emmy Awards, a Special BAFTA award, and 69 Emmy nominations in total.
The Downton Abbey movie is a Carnival Films production, with Focus Features and Universal Pictures International distributing.
