Hugh Bonneville teases ‘best’ Downton Abbey movie yet

Virgin Radio

26 Jun 2024, 08:55

Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville has spoken about the upcoming third Downton Abbey film, describing it as “the best iteration of the film versions yet”.

Last month, it was announced that the beloved British drama is set to return to the silver screen, with a star-studded cast, including familiar faces, back for another aristocratic adventure.

Following on from 2022’s Downton Abbey: A New Era, the new film will sees Hugh reprise his role as Robert Crawley.

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In a new interview with Yahoo!, the Paddington star shared an idea of what’s to come. “For my character, I think the usual [can be expected], which is that he's a sort of dinosaur trying to be led into the future reluctantly, and then eventually he stumbles forward a bit,” he said. “So as always, there's that rhythm of things changing with glacial slowness.

“Robert [is] finally accepting that things [are changing] - it's time to move the story on, so to speak. It's got the usual tropes, if you like, of thrills and spills in a very Downton way, which means spilling a teacup pretty much!”

He enthused: “I think there's so much warmth and fun to enjoy, and new elements as well - which I won't spoil - that I think it'll certainly be the best iteration of the film versions yet.”

The film will see Sideways star Paul Giamatti reprise his role as Cora Grantham’s affable brother Harold Levinson, while Dominic West will also make a comeback as Guy Dexter.

Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery and Laura Carmichael are all set to reprise their roles, while Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola, Simon Russell Beale and Arty Froushan are also set to grace the grand halls of Downton.

Having starred in all six series of the show, Hugh said: “What's been really interesting is there's a whole new generation of people watching it and still finding it engaging.”

He added: “It's been a wonderful part of my life and we're filming the third film at the moment, it's a lovely coming together of people I care deeply about, and that's just the fictional characters.”

The actor is set to star in a brand new ITV series, Douglas is Cancelled, which premieres tomorrow (27th June). He plays respected news presenter, Douglas Bellowes, who makes an ill-advised joke at a wedding and is faced with cancel culture.

Karen Gillan, who plays savvy co-anchor, Madeline Crow, recently the Chris Evans Breakfast Show with webuyanycar, to talk about the show.

She explained: “It starts off, and it's really funny. It's almost farcical, people popping in and out, so many one liners and funny moments. And then episode three just takes the biggest turn, and it is a completely different tone for the show.”

At this stage, a release date for Downton Abbey 3 has not been announced.