Listen up Downton Abbey fans - after months of speculation it looks as though a big-screen debut of the period drama WILL be happening...
The final episode of Britain's favourite period drama played nearly two years ago. From that moment on rumours emerged about the possibility of a Downton Abbey film... and now they have materialised!
What we know so far...
A film of the much-loved period drama is closer than ever, so close that The Sun has reported filming will commence in September. A source told the paper that Downton crew members and accountants have been asked to work on the picture.
Nothing concrete has been said, but an insider who spoke with The Sun said: "A budget has been set and now it's a case of getting everything in place to start shooting. It would take something big to stop the project from happening now."
James Carter teased us back in January that a movie spin-off of the show could be nearer than we thought. He played Carson, the butler, in Downton and revealed that the cast had been asked to keep dates free for a possible big-screen adaptation of the drama.
James's comments came after Joanne Froggatt, who played maid Anna Smith in the hit show, said there were rumours that a script had already been written.
Then just two months ago Phyllis Logan added further fuel to the fire when she said the Downton cast were all super keen for a film. Speaking on Good Morning Britain she said: "The will is definitely there with everybody involved."
Is it all good news?
Although many of the cast have spoken about their excitement for a potential Downton Abbey film, one character seemed to hope they would not make an appearance...
Back in April, Maggie Smith said she hoped that if a film were to be made it would start with the funeral of her character the Dowager Countess! While at the BFI and Radio Time Television Festival she said: 'I was firmly convinced it would start with the funeral, I could croak in it. It would just start with the body. But I don't know. They talk about there being a film, but who knows? Who knows?"
Maggie's thoughts on the prospect of a film were also pretty bleak. She said: "I think it's squeezing it dry, do you know what I mean? I don't know what it could possibly be."
Now it looks as though a film is firmly on the cards, the question is whether Downton's creator Julian Fellowes has the heart to kill off the Dowager Countess...
Downton Abbey is one of the most popular period dramas ever made. It launched in 2010 and ran for five more successful series. The final episode was the most-watched TV show on Christmas Day in 2015.
It was also regularly watched by 10 million people in the US despite showing on a non-mainstream channel. No doubt American fans will be as thrilled as we are to hear a Downton Abbey film is happening.
