It's official! There is a sequel to the 'Downton Abbey' movie coming out this year

It seems the world is not ready to say goodbye to beloved period drama Downton Abbey - and thankfully we won't have to.

The exciting news was announced officially today and revealed that the likes of Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye, and Dominic West will star in the film, directed by Simon. Julian Fellows who wrote the screenplay will also produce alongside Gareth Neame and Liz Trubridge.

"After a very challenging year with so many of us separated from family and friends, it is a huge comfort to think that better times are ahead," Neame said in a statement, "and that next Christmas we will be reunited with the much-beloved characters of Downton Abbey." 

After the announcement, Downton star Hugh Bonneville – who starred as Robert Crawley - took to Twitter to share his excitement about the new movie.

"Good to be back. #DowntonAbbey2," he wrote alongside a photo of him posing in front of a Downton Abbey poster.

Previously Neame - who also worked as executive producer on the original TV series - revealed to The Hollywood Reporter they actually started working on the plot for a sequel not long after the first film was unveiled.

"It’s the same as the first time around: We have to try to get everyone back together again. And that was very challenging," he told the publication.

"The challenge will be, is everyone available at the same time? Can we make deals with them? That will be the challenge."

The long-running series left our screens in 2016, and so fans of Downton Abbey were delighted to see all of our favourites characters from the original TV show, including Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville), Violet Crawley (Maggie Smith), Mary Crawley (Michelle Dockery), Anna Bates (Joanne Froggatt) and Cora Crawley (Elizabeth McGovern), returned to the big screen last year.

The film - which was set in 1927; roughly 18 months after the TV series finished - followed the residents as they face a new crisis: the impending visit of King George V and Queen Mary.

The second Downton Abbey movie is set to be released this December and we can’t wait!

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