‘The Gilded Age’ news: Characters revealed for ‘Downton’ creator’s new TV period drama

NBC has revealed the first information about the story and characters in The Gilded Age.

Created by Downton Abbey writer Julian Fellowes, the new period drama series was picked up by NBC earlier this year with a 10-episode order for the first season.

Executive produced by Downton boss Gareth Neame, The Gilded Age is set in New York in 1882 and will focus on the emerging rich and the working class.

NBC’s official description reads: “The Gilded Age in 1880s New York City was a period of immense social upheaval, of huge fortunes made and lost, and of palaces that spanned the length of Fifth Avenue.

“In the series, Marian Brook is the wide-eyed young scion of a conservative family who will embark on infiltrating the wealthy neighboring family dominated by ruthless railroad tycoon George Russell, his rakish and available son Larry, and his ambitious wife Bertha, whose ‘new money’ is a barrier to acceptance by the Astor and Vanderbilt set.

“Marian is about to experience a whole new world springing up right outside her front door.”

The Gilded Age will premiere on NBC in 2019 and casting will be announced later this year.

Julian Fellowes has described the project as “the fulfillment of a personal dream.”

Downton Abbey: The Complete Collection is available to buy now.

Filming on the Downton Abbey movie will finally begin this summer.