If there’s one thing the past year has shown us, it’s that there’s nothing like a period drama to provide the escapism we crave. With elaborate costumes, dated speech patterns and social mores that simultaneously feel strange and out of touch with our reality, it’s really no surprise that shows like Netflix’s horny Regency era ‘Bridgerton’, the charming bucolic ‘All Creatures Great and Small ‘”and even chess drama” The Queen’s Gambit “were smashing successes.
Riding this wave is “Downton Abbey.” Yes, the Crawleys and their beleaguered staff are back. Focus Features announced on Monday that a second film based on the wildly popular British drama will hit theaters this Christmas.
Even if you were a dedicated “Downton” fan, the existence of the first film may have come as a surprise, as the six seasons on TV were satisfyingly wrapped up for most characters. Nonetheless, the 2019 film not only made the investigation of the fading nobility bigger than life on the big screen, but was also a commercial success, grossing more than $ 194 million worldwide in its theatrical run.
As salon critic Melanie McFarland wrote, “’Downton Abbey’ is basically designed to hit the edge of life in 2019, the visual equivalent of a half-valium chased by champagne from a flute.” The film turned out to be less focused on necessity and more focused on offering a much needed fan service as a distraction.
The second film will no doubt double this strategy for a world hungry to escape our pandemic stress. “Downton Abbey 2” promises the return of all original cast members and a screenplay written by creator and Academy Award winner Julian Fellowes. Returning heavy hitters include Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess, Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley, among the rest of the up and down residents.
Joining the new cinematic universe “Downton Abbey” will be “Hannibal” stars Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye and Dominic West. Simon Curtis will direct.
Aside from that casting announcement, the plot for “Downton Abbey 2” remains unclear for now. The first film took place in 1927 with the Yorkshire manor in exciting preparation for a visit from the King and Queen. You can only speculate what this upcoming movie will bring, besides of course a lot of questions, such as:
How could “Downton 2” beat a royal visit? When does this new film take place? Will it leap into the future and introduce a new decade? Or will it stay exactly where the last movie did? What new technological advancements will the Crawleys face now? And why do we need another “Downton” movie now?
It’s been two years since the last, and five years since the series itself ended. And while the characters didn’t die in a massive natural disaster, their storylines felt pretty smooth. Do we really need to hear about the new business venture Tom (Allen Leech) was pursuing or see how much Lady Mary turns into the Countess Dowager? How many more children can be born – and are they outright ignored?
However, there is one storyline that remains unsolved, even if the film ended hopefully for Thomas Barrow (Robert James-Collier), the clerk best known as a man in the closet in the 1920s. While the series itself awkwardly presented racial and social issues, the film made an effort to at least not traumatize Thomas too much for storytelling. In fact, he became aware of a world of other gay men, even if it was a world living in the shadows.
Whether Thomas will be happily ever after remains to be seen, but “Downton” fans should be content anyway, as the timing couldn’t be better. The Christmas release of the movie could coincide with the new season of “Bridgerton” – which first debuted with great success last Christmas. In December, fans of costume drama can have an abundance of bodices and British accents on the big and small screen.