The Crawleys are preparing to say goodbye, and for all we know of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, it’s going to be a very emotional ending. The beloved British saga is pulling out all the stops for the finale movie, bringing back all faces and making sure it delivers on the 1930s glamour we’ve come to expect. It’s been 15 years, and saying goodbye will not be hard. But all good things must come to an end, sooner or later. In this case, it’s been later, but it still kinda stings.
“Part of Downton’s success is that it’s relatable, even though it’s set in a different time period,” Michelle Dockery told Harper’s Bazaar. “There are moments that people really connect with – heartache, joy, the loss of a grandmother – and it’s fundamentally about family and togetherness.”
That seems to still be true as we move into endings that will also, in many ways, be beginnings for these characters. We might not be seeing them anymore, but stories never truly end. And we hope this one ends happily.
Here’s everything we know about the upcoming movie:
What is Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale About?
England has changed since Downton Abbey began. What does this mean for Lady Mary? And can she keep the family together in the face of new challenges?
Most importantly, can she do it without the Dowager? Maggie Smith, who played the Dowager, passed away in 2024. This, ironically, happened after her character also passed away in the last Downton Abbey movie. In an interview with TVLine, the show’s EP, Gareth Neame, shared, “The loss of the Dowager, it now feels far more significant that you see actors playing characters mourning the family matriarch. But I also see actors mourning the matriarch of the show, and it feels more genuine and more meaningful.”
And the upstairs-downstairs dynamics are set to continue. “We never asked the audience to take the upstairs characters more seriously, or to engage with their emotional journeys any more than with the servants’ trials and tribulations,” Julian Fellowes, Downton’s creator, also told Harper’s Bazaar. “They were all just people, men and women, trying to do their best with the cards they had been dealt.”
The official synopsis for the movie teases both Mary finding herself in the middle of a scandal and financial trouble for the family. Will the Crawleys end in social disgrace? We will have to wait and see.
Who is Returning and What Callbacks Can We Expect?
Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Allen Leech, Laura Carmichael, and Harry Hadden-Paton are all set to return. Other familiar faces are also back, like Paul Giamatti playing Cora’s brother, Harold, and Dominic West as Guy Dexter.
Jim Carter, Phyllis Logan, Sophie McShera, Lesley Nicol, Robert James-Collier, and Brendan Coyle are also making a comeback. And if the closing scene of the trailer, where we see Robert Crawley, played by Hugh Bonneville, giving the walls of Downton a gentle kiss with his hand, is anything to go by, we’re in for an emotional farewell.
The trailer says it all: “Everything has led to this.”
Simon Curtis directed the movie, with Julian Fellowes writing the script.
Where are the Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale trailers?
You can watch them here:
And here’s a featurette looking behind the scenes:
And another one, in case you want to get emotional thinking about the fact that this is the end:
Oh, and here’s a featurette with the cast talking about their favorite memories:
Plus, if you’ve got some time, you should absolutely check out the official podcast:
The official Focus Features YouTube also has a few clips from the new movie, if you don’t mind spoilers.
Are there any pictures?
Yes, there are. Pictures and posters! You can examine them all here:
Anything else I need to know?
Yes! If you’re a super fan, you cannot miss NBC’s special evening with the cast, as they look back at the show’s legacy and celebrate the release of their newest film. Watch Downton Abbey Celebrates the Grand Finale on Wednesday, September 10 at 9/8c on NBC and streaming on Peacock.
When does Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale premiere?
The movie is heading to theaters on September 12, 2025. No word yet on when it will be available on streaming.
Where to Watch More of Downton Abbey?
Fret not, if you want to watch the entire series, you have options. The entire series is available on BritBox, PBS Passport, and Prime Video. Downton Abbey: The Movie is on Netflix and Peacock, as well! Plus, Downton Abbey: A New Era can also be found on Peacock.
RELATED: If You Loved Downton Abbey, You Should Watch ‘The Gilded Age’
