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Fans of the Downton Abbey series and films, prepare to bid a bittersweet farewell to the Crawley family. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, the third film in the franchise, arrives in September 2025, and the newly released trailer hints at a poignant storyline honoring the late Dame Maggie Smith, who played the iconic Dowager Countess.
Smith’s passing in September 2024 adds an unexpected layer of emotion to the film. The trailer features a touching tribute to the beloved actress, showcasing a portrait of Smith as the Dowager Countess hanging in the Abbey’s grand foyer, with Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) gazing at it wistfully.
Executive producer Gareth Neame shared in a December 2024 interview that Smith’s death brought a deeper resonance to the film’s narrative. The characters’ mourning for the family matriarch now reflects the actors’ own grief for the “matriarch of the show.” Neame described Smith’s passing as “the end of an era,” emphasizing the irreplaceable nature of the legendary actress.
Despite the somber undertones, the trailer promises the familiar Downton Abbey grandeur, featuring horse races, glamorous nightlife, and Lady Mary stunning in a vibrant red gown, prompting Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael) to declare, “You will be a sensation.”
The film’s tagline, “The place we’ll always remember. The family we’ll never forget.
Everything has led to this. It’s almost time to bid farewell,” suggests a final chapter for the beloved Crawley family.
The press release indicates the film will explore the family navigating the future and embracing change as Downton Abbey enters a new era.
Returning cast members from the previous films will be joined by new additions Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola, Simon Russell Beale, and Arty Froushan. The film is slated for release in September 2025.