It could be a big year for Downton Abbey fans, as the Mail on Sunday is reporting that production on the long-rumoured feature film is slated to get underway this summer.
The paper reports that some interior shooting is slated to take place at various locations including Highclere Castle in Berkshire, which is scheduled to close in the first week of June. Meanwhile, actress Phyllis Logan – who portrayed the character of housekeeper Mrs. Hughes, has revealed that the producers have been in touch with the cast about clearing dates in their diaries.
“Everyone’s been asked what’s going on between this date and that date,” said Logan. “So we just hope that all the elements – because there are so many – come together. To have a last hurrah with all the characters, going back to the castle and seeing all the old muckers will be fantastic. I’m certainly up for it…. there’s a potential script coming our way, slightly rewritten.”
Downton Abbey ran for six seasons on ITV, with the period drama coming to an end in 2015. Development on the movie has been underway ever since, with the original plan being to shoot the film in 2017.