Downton Abbey 3 has been confirmed as the “final” movie in the franchise by its star, with a filming timeline also reportedly revealed.

Downton Abbey 3 has been confirmed by one of the previous movie’s stars, while a filming timeline has also reportedly been revealed. The historical drama follows the lives of the Crawley family in the early 20th century, showcasing their lives as aristocrats on the estate. Beginning as a TV series, the story has since continued in two sequel films, the newest of which, Downton Abbey: A New Era, was released in 2022.

Now, on Zoe Ball’s BBC Radio 2 show (via Radio Times), Imelda Staunton, who portrays Lady Maud Bagshaw in the films, has confirmed Downton Abbey 3 is happening, and will be “the final film” in the series. The confirmation comes with news (via Collider) that filming for the movie will begin in May, and is expected to end in July. This means it may not be long until the entire series definitively comes to a close.

The Downton Abbey TV show ended with Series 6 in 2015, but has since continued as an ongoing movie series.

What To Expect From Downton Abbey 3

Given Staunton was the one to confirm the film’s existence, it seems this final installment will keep pushing the Downton Abbey timeline forward. This means it will tie up any loose ends to the Crawley family following A New Era, giving the series and its characters a more definitive conclusion. Given this will be the final movie, it could also mean the franchise as a whole is coming to a close. There have been rumors of a seventh season being in the works, but one last movie seems more likely.

Since this film will be a sequel to the 2022 installment, it’s reasonable to assume many cast members from A New Era will be coming back. Beyond Staunton’s Maud, there will likely be appearances by Hugh Bonneville’s Robert, Elizabeth McGovern’s Cora, Michelle Dockery’s Mary, and Allen Leech’s Tom, among other returnees. Other characters who have been appearing regularly since the start of the series will also no doubt be featured in the film.

While no information on the story has been revealed yet, A New Era set the stage for the next film to honor Violet’s legacy following her death in the previous movie. This allows for one last storyline within the Yorkshire estate that brings the entire story full circle. With more about Downton Abbey 3 likely to be revealed later this year, it may not be long until the final movie arrives in theaters.