Laura Carmichael says ‘Downton Abbey’ movie has ‘turned the volume up’
Downton Abbey star Laura Carmichael has revealed that the upcoming film has “upped the ante.”
Written by Downton creator Julian Fellowes, the big screen spin-off of ITV’s hit period drama begins in 1927, around 18 months after the events of the final episode.
The movie finished filming last autumn and the first trailer dropped in December.
Almost the entire main cast of the TV series will be returning, including original star Laura Carmichael.
The 32-year-old English actress will be back as Lady Edith, alongside Harry Hadden-Paton as her new husband Bertie Pelham.
Speaking to reporters at the Television Critics Association last month, Carmichael commented: “There’s some new exciting people, which was dreamy. New cast members which you’ll love and enjoy.”
She added: “I think everyone will be pleased that we’ve upped the ante. Turned the volume up.”
Carmichael continued: “It was really magic to see each other and see each other become those characters again. Like seeing Jim [Carter] become Carson and seeing Phyllis [Logan] become Mrs. Hughes. It gave us all a thrill.
“I can’t speak for other people. But I can say we all had a dreamy time, it was lush.”
Discussing the rumours that a sequel is already being planned, she teased: “That is certainly a question for Lord Fellowes.”
The final season of Downton Abbey saw Edith unexpectedly out-rank her whole family when Bertie became the seventh Marquess of Hexham after the death of a relative.
The movie’s director Michael Engler previously hinted: “The two of them are adapting to being a married couple and to her being a lady of one of these great houses.”
Laura Carmichael returns to TV screens soon in The White Queen follow-up series The Spanish Princess on Starz.
Her Downton co-star Joanne Froggatt recently told fans they can expect “romance, fun, surprises, sadness and intrigue” in the film.
The Downton Abbey movie will be released on Friday 13th September in the UK and on Friday 20th September in the USA.
Downton Abbey: The Complete Collection DVD box set is available on Amazon.