Downton Abbey 2 reveals official title as first footage is teased

Downton Abbey 2 has revealed its official title, and confirmed its US release date.

During Universal's presentation at Cinema Con on Wednesday, August 23, Focus Features confirmed that the eagerly anticipated sequel would be called Downton Abbey: A New Era, which suggests that there could be some sort of time jump between instalments, and that it would come out in cinemas across the pond on March 18, 2022.

Attendees were shown footage from the movie, too, which reportedly sees Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville), Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) and co preparing for a lengthy tour of Europe. According to Deadline, there isn't much dialogue in the teaser but at one point, you can hear the Crawley family's former butler Mr Carson (Jim Carter) joke that, "The British are coming."

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Focus Features

While there may not be any lines, the publication promises there's "lots of glitz and glamour and jazz" and a wedding, too – perhaps between Tom Branson (Allen Leech) and Lucy Smith (Tuppence Middleton), who began a romantic relationship in the first film? Or two of the new characters set to be introduced?

It's been known for quite some time that the entire cast will be returning for the follow-up, which means the likes of Matthew Goode, Robert James-Collier, Joanne Froggatt, Elizabeth McGovern, Laura Carmichael and Dame Maggie Smith will be back as Henry Talbot, Thomas Barrow, Anna Bates, Cora Crawley, Edith Pelham and Violet, the Dowager Countess, respectively.

Universal

They'll be joined on screen by franchise newbies Hugh Dancy, who is perhaps best known for his roles in TV shows such as Homeland and Hannibal, Laura Haddock (White Lines), Nathalie Baye (Criminal: France) and Dominic West, who will next be seen in Netflix's The Crown.

My Week with Marilyn's Simon Curtis is set to direct, while Downton creator Julian Fellowes wrote the screenplay.

Downton Abbey The Movie is available to buy on digital, DVD and Blu-ray now. Downton Abbey 2 will be released in cinemas in 2022.