Downton Abbey 2 confirmed to hit cinemas this Christmas

All members of the original cast will return for the sequel along with new cast members Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye, and Dominic West.

Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski has confirmed that production has started on Downton Abbey 2.

The original principal cast will all once again return for the second film which began production last week and is set to release Christmas 2021 on 22 December.

In addition to the original cast, Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye, and Dominic West will also be joining the cast.

Downton creator Academy-Award winner Julian Fellowes will once again write the film’s screenplay, with Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning Gareth Neame and Emmy Award-winning Liz Trubridge back to produce.

Meanwhile, BAFTA and Emmy nominated director Simon Curtis will be joining the filmmaking team to direct the sequel.

The initial film followed a Royal Visit to the Crawley family and Downton staff from the King and Queen of England and ended with a ball fitting for the Royal Family.

“After a very challenging year with so many of us separated from family and friends, it is a huge comfort to think that better times are ahead and that next Christmas we will be reunited with the much-beloved characters of Downton Abbey," Gareth Neame, the film's producer and executive chair of Carnival Films said.

Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski added: “There’s no place like home for the holidays, and we can’t imagine a better gift than getting to reunite with Julian, Gareth, and the entire Downton family in 2021 to bring the Crawley’s back home for their fans."