'Downton Abbey' is a planned big-screen adaptation of the popular television series of the same name. Actress Dame Maggie Smith admitted that she would not return as the dowager Countess of Grantham. The film may not be set in the 1920's.
According to The Telegraph, Dame Maggie Smith revealed that she will not be appearing to reprise her role as Violet Crawley, the dowager Countess of Grantham, in a planned big-screen release of the popular British period drama television series. She previously said that it might be fun to return but character has since aged dramatically over the course of the series' run. She revealed at The Graham Norton Show, "I'm glad it's over, I really am. By the time we finished she must have been about 110. It couldn't go on and on, it just didn't make sense."
The multi-awarded actress is known for numerous film, television and stage work including her role as Professor McGonagall on the 'Harry Potter' film series. She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire and sealed her reputation as one of Britain's most celebrated actresses of her time. She earned several Academy Awards, BAFTA Awards, Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards among others.
Creator Julian Fellowes expressed his enthusiasm over the possibility of a full-feature film saying that for now, he would focus on getting a script off the ground. According to Washington Times Reporter, Fellowes said, "So much of this depends on the script. For me, it's the real key here... This holds a great deal of interest for me, because I still have more to say with Downton. I see this transitioning to film quite well, and I certainly am the person to tell this story." Executive producer Gareth Neame echoed Fellowes' sentiments saying that although there had been no concrete plans yet, they have been brainstorming on several ideas for a film.
According to Radio Times, Neame hinted that the 'Downton Abbey' film's period setting may be changed. It may be set in the Fifties or even Sixties as opposed to being set in the 1920's and could move the original storyline considerably.
He said, "I'm interested in the fact that George, Marigold and Sybbie could just about still be alive today if you think about it, which is a really good way to show how we're connected to this era. It's just about within living memory... I am interested to know what happens when George is running the estate, in the... whenever it is, 1950s, Sixties or something."
'Downton Abbey' is a planned big-screen adaptation of the long-running television series of the same name. The series is set in the Yorkshire country estate of Downton Abbey and follows the lives of the upper-class Crawley family and their servants. It received critical acclaim and garnered numerous awards including a Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television Film and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie.
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