Imelda Staunton has confirmed that there will be a third Downton Abbey film.
Earlier this month, it was reported that the franchise was set to return after the major success of its two films.
The third film is reported to pick off where the sequel left off, in the late 1920s.
Imelda who plays one of Queen Mary’s ladies-in-waiting Lady Maud Bagshaw in the much-loved TV show and movie, spoke with Zoe Ball on Radio 2 on Wednesday.
Zoe said: “Lots of people are asking me because obviously Jim [Carter] is your chap. Do you know about Downton, and the rumours? There’s more coming. Have we… yes? There is? What do you know? What can you say?”
Without hesitation, Imelda said: “Right. There will be… the final… film. There you go.”
Zoe exclaimed: “Wow! That’s it, that’s all she’s got but that’s pretty huge Imelda! Fantastic – I hope we haven’t got you in any trouble at all.”
Imelda grinned: “I don’t care!”
Zoe added: “You don’t care anyway. You’re wild like that and I love it! You get to that point in life and you’re like ‘I don’t care anyway’.”
This comes after a new report revealed that producers have “added an Oscar-nominee” to the cast of the third film.
The Sun reported that Paul Giamatti has reportedly joined the cast of Downton Abbey 3, as the team head into filming ahead of a 2025 release.
The 56-year-old actor is best known for his roles in Saving Private Ryan, Cinderella Man, 12 Years A Slave, The Planet of the Apes and most recently The Holdovers.
Paul went up against Cillian Murphy in the Best Actor category at this year’s Oscars for his role in the critically-acclaimed film.
A TV insider told the publication: “Downton fans will recognise Paul from the last time he starred in Downton Abbey in the 2013 TV series, playing Harold Levinson, the brother of the Countess of Grantham.”
“But getting him back is still something of a coup for the creative team because since then his career has seen him become even more in demand.”
“That’s only going to increase since he was nominated for his Best Actor Oscar. But he has now committed to being a part of the new Downton film.”
The first Downton movie was released in 2019, with Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern as central characters, the Earl and Countess of Grantham, and Laura Carmichael as their daughter, Lady Edith.
Along with Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess, they all returned in the 2022 sequel, Downton Abbey: A New Era, which was set between the South of France and the stately home.
