In 2019, fans of hit TV series Downton Abbey were treated to a film, which saw the Crawley family and Downton staff hosting the king and queen of England. Now, a new instalment is on its way titled Downton Abbey: A New Era, which sees Dame Maggie Smith’s character Dowager Countess reveal a secret to her family about her past.
“Years ago before you were born, I met a man, and now I’ve come into possession of a villa in the South of France,” she says non-chalantly in the first teaser for the film. The family is then shown to go on the “grandest escape of the year” as they holiday in the stunning French countryside.
“And with that I will say good night,” the Dowager Countess says at one point during a soiree, “and leave you to discuss my mysterious past.”
But that’s not all the short clip reveals, with Tom Branson (Allen Leech) appearing to tie the knot with Lucy Smith (Tuppence Middleton), which if you’ve watched the first film shouldn’t come as a complete surprise after their explosive chemistry.
Other notable characters shown in the 15-second preview include Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) and Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael) and their spouses. Plus, we’re also shown the Earl and Countess of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern). But despite the familiar faces, there is one person missing from the teaser: Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith).
The last time fans heard from her, the aging matriarch stated she was ill and that she most likely doesn’t have much time left. But don’t feel too upset, as it’s possible she’ll be involved in a big reveal.
The film was originally set to release in theatres on December 22, but just like everything else during a pandemic, it’s been pushed back to March 17 2022.
