April 25, 2022
(Odeon Luxe Leicester Square)
April 29, 2022 (United Kingdom)
May 20, 2022 (United States)
Downton Abbey: A New Era is a 2022 historical drama film directed by Simon Curtis from a screenplay by Julian Fellowes. It is the sequel to Downton Abbey (2019) and the second film in the Downton Abbey franchise. Set in 1928, it follows the Crawley family on a journey to the south of France to uncover the mystery of the Dowager Countess's newly inherited villa.
After the release of the first film in 2019, Fellowes and the cast stated that they already had ideas about doing a sequel. In January 2020, it was reported that Fellowes would begin working on the film, and later that September, it was revealed that the script for the film had been written. Filming began in mid-April 2021, and ended in July, with a production budget of $40 million. The title was announced the following month.
Downton Abbey: A New Era premiered at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London on 25 April 2022 and was released in the United Kingdom on 29 April and in the United States on 20 May by Focus Features. The film received generally positive reviews from critics and grossed $92.7 million worldwide. The third and final film, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, was released on September 12, 2025.
Storyline
In 1928, Tom Branson, the Earl of Grantham's widowed son-in-law, marries Lucy Smith, the illegitimate daughter of and sole heir to Lady Maud Bagshaw, Queen Mary's lady-in-waiting. Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, astonishes the family by revealing that long ago she was given a villa in Southern France by the Marquis de Montmirail, who has recently died. Violet is bequeathing it to her great-granddaughter, Sybbie, the daughter of Tom and the late Lady Sybil Crawley, to ensure that she is more socially and financially on par with her cousins George, Caroline, Marigold and Peter.
A film production company wants to use Downton to shoot a silent film called The Gambler. Robert declines, until his eldest daughter and estate manager, Lady Mary Talbot, convinces him that the fee would replace Downton's leaking roof. The household staff are eager to see the film's stars, but lead actress Myrna Dalgliesh's haughtiness offends some of them.
The new Marquis de Montmirail invites the Crawley family to visit the villa. The ailing Violet is unable to travel, but Tom and Lucy, Lady Bagshaw, Robert Crawley and his wife Cora, their daughter Edith and her husband, Bertie Pelham, the Marquess of Hexham, accept. Former butler Carson, valet Mr Bates, and lady's maid Miss Baxter accompany the family. Lady Edith, once again writing for the London-based magazine she owns, uses the trip as a working assignment. Lady Mary remains at Downton to oversee the film crew, assisted by Mrs Carson, the former Mrs Hughes.
The Marquis de Montmirail welcomes the family to the villa. His mother contests Violet Crawley's ownership. However, the family lawyer states that there is no basis for a claim, especially as the late Marquis bequeathed the villa to Violet before marrying, meaning that the villa is legally Violet's. The Marquis later stuns Robert by implying that Robert's birth date, nine months after the Dowager Countess's 1864 visit, could mean they are half-brothers. That night, Cora tells Robert she may have a fatal illness. Robert breaks down at the prospect of losing his mother, the Crawley name and title, and his wife in short succession.
At Downton, the studio cancels The Gambler because silent films have become unprofitable in the "talkie" era. Lady Mary suggests salvaging the project by dubbing in the dialogue for completed scenes and filming new ones with sound. Lead actor Guy Dexter's resonant voice is suitable, but Myrna Dalgleish's cockney accent is inappropriate for her upper-class character. Mrs Hughes suggests that Lady Mary dub Dalgleish's voice. Fearing her career is ruined, Dalgleish wants to leave the cast, but Downton servants Anna and Daisy persuade her to complete the film. Former Downton footman Mr Molesley, who can lip-read, reconstructs the dialogue for dubbing, and creates a dialogued script. During production, Dexter tacitly reveals to Downton's closeted butler, Thomas Barrow, that he is also gay, and they form a romantic bond. Dexter offers Barrow the position of his housekeeper and wardrobe assistant in Hollywood, as a front so they can be together.
The family returns to Downton while filming continues. Lady Mary gently rebuffs director Jack Barber's flirtations, although her husband Henry's prolonged absence for a car rally has strained their marriage. Barrow accepts Dexter's job offer so they can have a life together and resigns his position at Downton. Dr Clarkson diagnoses Cora with pernicious anaemia, a treatable condition. Cora helps Dalgleish develop an American accent, potentially saving her career. Edith, unfulfilled and constrained as a marchioness, intends to resume running her London-based magazine. Wanting more privacy, newlywed servants Daisy and Andy successfully scheme to match Daisy's former father-in-law, Mr Mason, and Downton cook Mrs Patmore. When the unpaid movie extras walk out, the Downton staff replace them, ensuring the film's completion. Barber offers Molesley a lucrative deal as a screenwriter. Molesley then proposes to Baxter, unaware that everyone can overhear them on an open microphone, and she accepts.
Violet assures Robert that the late Lord Grantham was his father and that nothing serious occurred between her and the elder Montmirail. Violet's health deteriorates and she dies surrounded by family and servants. Mary asks Carson to temporarily return as butler to train footman Andy as Barrow's replacement. Months later, Tom and Lucy, along with Sybbie, return to Downton with their newborn child. A new portrait of Violet hangs in the entry hall.
Also See
- Downton Abbey
- Downton Abbey (2019)
- Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022) (Trailers)
- Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022) (TV Spots)