We have been following the lives of the Crawley family at Downton Abbey through so much over the years. From the Titanic sinking to World War One, the Spanish Flu, and the Roaring Twenties, it has been over 15 years now. We have seen them on both small and big screens. But after six seasons, 52 episodes, and two movies, Julian Fellowes' story about the upstairs and downstairs residents is getting ready for its big emotional ending with Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale this summer. If the first official teaser trailer is any indication, then the big goodbye for Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, Brendan Coyle, Jim Carter, and the rest of the Grantham Estate group will be one for the history books.
This first good look at The Grand Finale is mostly a tease, not a full trailer. But what a powerful tease it is for what feels like a fancy period drama version of Avengers: Endgame. We hear John Lunn's deep, sweeping main music. Dominic West's Guy Dexter even adds a nice, self-aware comment "What a melody!" Lord and Lady Grantham are dressed up for a day at the races. We see a glimpse of Paul Giamatti returning as Harold Levinson. There is also a soft shot of Lord Robert touching his family's home as a new decade seems ready to send the Crawleys to new places. It feels like a big moment is coming.
Regarding the plot, all we really know is what the movie's short description tells us. The Grand Finale picks up after the events of A New Era. It follows the Crawley family and their staff as they enter the 1930s. The description says the beloved characters must figure out how to lead Downton Abbey into the future. They need to accept change and begin a new chapter. Guiding this journey will be all your favorite characters from the show and the last two Movies. There are some new faces too. Joely Richardson Alessandro Nivola Simon Russell Beale and Arty Froushan are joining the cast.
The Grand Finale Trailer Raises Questions About Familiar Faces And Emotional GoodbyesWhy Fans Are Both Excited And A Bit Worried About Who Will Be In The Final Downton Abbey Movie
The trailer shows us Carson crying. Lady Mary is being photographed by the press. These moments make us wonder what is going on. We also get a touching moment when Lady Mary stops inside Downton Abbey. She looks up wistfully at a painting of her grandmother, Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham. Dame Maggie Smith played this character. She passed away in the 2022 movie, Downton Abbey: A New Era. So, I am sure we will see more mourning and characters talking about her in this final film. This really adds to the old memories and sweetness of the series ending. It feels like a proper goodbye to a beloved character.
However, fans quickly noticed some familiar characters were not in the trailer. This made many viewers quite sad. Matthew Goode, who played Lady Mary Crawley’s husband Henry Talbot, has confirmed he will not be back. He has other work planned and recently had a knee operation. Goode appeared in seasons five and six of the series and the first movie. He was not in the second movie and now he is out of the third. Fans online shared their disappointment. One person wrote, "Where is MATTHEW GOODE?? You should’ve paid the man whatever he asked! I miss his and Mary’s love story." Another asked "So no Matthew Goode again? Is Mary still married?" Someone else wondered, "Did we like lose all the husbands on the way?" It is clear his absence is keenly felt.
Robert James-Collier, who plays Thomas Barrow, was also nowhere to be found in the trailer. Thomas Barrow is often a controversial character, but he is loved by fans. He started as a footman and became a butler. His character's story explored the difficulties of being gay during a time of social restrictions. He struggled to find love throughout the series. But he finally found a romantic connection in the second film, eventually moving to the US with actor Guy Dexter, played by Dominic West. Fans were surprised to see him missing from the trailer since it was confirmed he would return for this third movie. One fan wrote "So excited, but if we only get like 5 minutes of screentime of Robert James-Collier, that will be who my tears are for." Another added "Lack of Thomas in the promo is [sad face emoji]." It sounds like fans are ready to shed some tears for these characters.
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The Main Cast Returns To Bring The Downton Abbey Saga To A Fitting Conclusion
Exploring The Film's Intent To Honor Its Story And Its Loyal Fanbase
Despite some missing faces, most of the much-loved cast will be back for the film. Familiar faces include Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley. Hugh Bonneville as Lord Grantham. Jim Carter as Mr Carson. Phyllis Logan as Mrs Hughes. Elizabeth McGovern as Lady Grantham. Laura Carmichael as Lady Edith Crawley. Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates. Robert James-Collier as Thomas Barrow. Allen Leech as Tom Branson. The return of these core actors means the film can still deliver the familiar charm and relationships that fans love.
Michelle Dockery, who plays Lady Mary, shared in January that the cast and crew kept Dame Maggie Smith's spirit alive during filming. She said the movie is a real tribute to Maggie Smith. Dockery added that filming the final movie felt really special. She said, "Like anything, when something comes to an end, it's emotional but just such a happy place to be." She noted it has "always been a very happy place to be and a wonderful thing to be part of for the last 15 years." This sentiment really comes through in the trailer. It gives a sense of both sadness for the end and joy for the journey.
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale feels like one of those films that will not only continue a beautiful story but also honor the fans. It seems ready to play on our emotions about the series officially ending. The movie is set to come out in theaters on September 12, 2025. I think we should all have our tissues ready. This truly sounds like a grand goodbye to a beloved story that has been with us for so long.