‘Downton Abbey’ sequel update: When does second movie begin filming?

Hugh Bonneville has revealed when the next Downton Abbey movie might start shooting.

Based on ITV’s hit period drama series, the first Downton Abbey film was released in 2019, topping the box office in the UK and the US.

The inevitable sequel was officially confirmed last year.

Downton star Jim Carter, who plays Mr Carson, announced in September that the script is finished, describing it as “very funny” and revealing that “all the regular characters” will be back.

The plan had been for production to begin in 2021, but the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has made it difficult to schedule filming with such a large cast.

Speaking on The One Show recently, Bonneville gave this update: “There won’t be any more TV episodes, but we would love to make another movie.

“There is a script, it has been written and seen, but a little thing called coronavirus got in the way of us filming it. It would be lovely to think that later this year the cameras could start rolling.”

If the shoot can begin this year, it’s still possible the sequel will arrive in cinemas in 2022 as planned.

Bonneville previously told The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show last month: “….until [the pandemic] is under control in a sensible way, we are not going to be able to get all those ducks in a row … But there is certainly the intention to do it. We are desperate to do it.”

The 57-year-old actor, who starred as Lord Grantham in every episode of Downton and the first film, was busy volunteering at a Covid-19 vaccination hub last month.

He can currently be seen playing author Roald Dahl in new period drama To Olivia, ahead of filming an adaptation of Terry Pratchett’s The Amazing Maurice and another Paddington movie.

Downton Abbey: The Complete Collection box set is available on DVD on Amazon.