Downton Abbey 2 Gets Pushed Back to Spring 2022

July 2, 2021

According to Deadline, Focus Features has decided to delay the release date for Julian Fellowes’ upcoming Downton Abbey sequel, which is currently still in production until August. Originally set for a December 22, 2021 theatrical release, Downton Abbey 2 has officially been pushed back to the spring of next year on March 18, 2022.

Despite avoiding a tough competition against The Matrix 4 and Sing 2, the period drama film’s new debut date has now put it in the same release month with two indirect high-profile competitors which are two of next year’s highly-anticipated superhero movies, Matt Reeves’ The Batman, and Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Downton Abbey 2 will feature the return of the critically acclaimed show’s main cast, including award-winning actress Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Dockery, and Elizabeth McGovern. The initial film followed a Royal Visit to the Crawley family and Downton staff from the King and Queen of England and ended with a ball fitting for the Royal Family.

Joining the original cast are new cast members, Hugh Dancy (Elizabeth I), Laura Haddock (Guardians of the Galaxy), Nathalie Baye (The Young Lieutenant) and Dominic West (The Affair).

The sequel will be directed by BAFTA-nominated director Simon Curtis (My Week with Marilyn) from a screenplay written by Julian Fellowes, who will also serve as a producer along with Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning Gareth Neame and Emmy Award-winning Liz Trubridge.

Downton Abbey 2 is a Carnival Films production, with Focus Features and Universal Pictures International distributing. Carnival Films is part of NBCUniversal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group.