Earlier this year, the world lost a true treasure whenDame Maggie Smithpassed away at the age of 89,but her legacy will live on in the newDownton Abbeymoviethat’s slated to release next year. Smith starred in the original series as Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, and reprised the role twice more in two feature films: 2019’sDownton Abbeyand 2022’sDownton Abbey: A New Era. Sadly, art imitated life in the last film, which saw her character pass away peacefully two years before Smith died in real life.
PerTV Line,Downton Abbey 3is slated to release on Jul 26, 2025, and the outlet caught up with executive producer Gareth Neame to discusshow Smith’s passingaffected the film and its story. Though Smith died after filming was complete, he saidit added more weight to the scenes that have the actors mourning her fictional deathfrom the last movie, making it feel all too real for everyone involved now knowing she’s actually gone.
“The fact that Dame Maggie herself has now passed away since that time, I do think, has given a real added poignancy to a story that we would have planned anyway. The loss of the Dowager, it now feels far more significant that you see actors playing characters mourning the family matriarch. But I also see actors mourning the matriarch of the show, and it feels more genuine and more meaningful.”
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He would also go on to mention that when it comes to paying tribute to Smith – who won three Primetime Emmys and a Golden Globe for her portrayal of the Dowager Countess – the cast members' “huge respect” for the late actress will definitely “come across in the next movie.”
What Is Returning for ‘Downton Abbey 3?’
With much of the plot ofDownton Abbey: A New Erafocusing on Smith’s character of the Dowager Countess, details are scarce on where the third entry in the film franchise will go next. Barrow is off to New York, Molesley and Baxter are getting married, and Tom and Lucy have a new baby, so the film can go in any number of directions from there. We at least know it will take place in the 30s, and follow the Crowley family as they “face evolving societal changes and personal upheavals.”
We’ll also see the return of some fan favorites, including Hugh Bonneville’s Robert Crawley, Brendan Coyle as John Bates, Michelle Dockery’s Lady Mary, Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates, and Robert James-Collier as Thomas Barrow. Paul Giamatti will also reprise his role of Harold Levinson from the series to appear in the latest film, which features newcomers Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola, Simon Russell Beale, and Arty Froushan in undisclosed roles.
Aside from that, mum’s the word right now onDownton Abbey 3, but it has been confirmedthat it will be the final film in the franchise. Given that Smith – who was really at the heart of the series – is now gone, here’s hoping it makes for a fitting end to what has been one of the most incredible journeys in film and TV history.
Downton Abbey
