Will Lady Rosamund return in the ‘Downton Abbey’ sequel?

The makers of Downton Abbey have revealed we may see some returnees in the next movie.

Based on ITV’s hit period drama series, the first Downton film topped the box office when it was released last autumn.

Plans for a sequel plans were soon confirmed and the second movie is expected to arrive in cinemas in 2021 or 2022.

Almost the entire cast of the TV show appeared in last year’s film, but a number of popular recurring characters were nowhere to be seen.

Sue Johnston previously admitted that her character Gladys Denker was originally in the script, but that the lady’s maid to Violet Crawley was later cut.

Another much-loved character who didn’t appear in the film was Robert Crawley’s sister.

James Bond actress Samantha Bond played Lady Rosamund Painswick in 18 episodes of Downton Abbey.

However, producer Gareth Neame has explained that, while they would’ve loved to include her in the story, the script needed to be “really focused on who were actually the characters at Downton.”

Neame recalled telling Samantha Bond this news: “I phoned Samantha saying. ‘I think there just isn’t something in the script for you, but maybe another time’.”

Fingers crossed for next time, then!

Neame added: “We loved all those recurring characters – all of Violet Grantham’s servants, we love those characters as well.”

Downton creator Julian Fellowes agreed: “Anyone who isn’t in the [first] film who was in the series, I miss because I love them all…”

We’d particularly like to see Jeremy Swift back as the hilarious Spratt!

While we wait for the Downton Abbey sequel, Julian Fellowes has several new projects for us this year, including Belgravia, The English Game, The Gilded Age, and his new adaptation of The Wind in the Willows.

The Downton Abbey movie is available on DVD on Amazon.