'Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale's Posters Give a Last Look at Fan Favorites

One of our favorite traditions for Downton Abbey was the release of the yearly "Character Posters" that would arrive every season like clockwork, a few weeks before the new season premiered. (Longtime fans may recall the uproar that occurred one year when the image of Lord Grantham and Lady Edith was missing from the collection, pulled at the last minute due to a stray water bottle accidentally left sitting on the mantle.) The films haven't been quite as thorough in releasing posters for the entire ensemble, as Focus Features and ITV/PBS naturally follow different marketing schedules and formats.

However, with the final film on the way, Focus Features has done us all a solid and released an entire series of character posters, covering all of the primary leads returning for the final film. They're not quite as good as the ones that were released for the TV show; feature films tend to photoshop the heck out of movie posters, and you can tell that aggressive perfecting of human beings was applied here, and not always to best effect.

That being said, there's a joy in returning to tradition that feels right and proper for the final outing of the series. If this is to be Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, then it's time to pull out all the stops and make this the grandest finale Downton Abbey has ever seen.

Here's the film's synopsis:

The cinematic return of the global phenomenon follows the Crawley family and their staff as they enter the 1930s. When Mary finds herself at the center of a public scandal and the family faces financial trouble, the entire household grapples with the threat of social disgrace. The Crawleys must embrace change as the staff prepares for a new chapter with the next generation leading Downton Abbey into the future.

Downton Abbey’s final cast starts with Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern as Lord and Lady Grantham; Dockery and Laura Carmichael as daughters Lady Mary and Lady Edith, and Allen Leech as son-in-law Tom. Later additions include Harry Hadden-Paton as Lady Edith’s husband, Bertie, and from Downton Abbey: A New Era, Dominic West returns as Lady Mary’s next love interest, Guy Dexter. 

Original series star Penelope Wilton also returns as Lady Merton, Lady Mary’s ex-mother-in-law, and later addition Douglas Reith as her new husband, Lord Merton. Season 3 Christmas special guest star Paul Giamatti also finally gets a turn on the big screen, reprising his role as Cora’s brother, Harold Levinson. The late Maggie Smith's character, the Dowager Countess Violet, will be honored in the film.

Of all the images, the most interesting is the character posters paired Barrow and Dexter. It may have just been a "random leftovers" pairing because they didn't want to give them individual ones. However, it is the only image that crosses "upstairs" with "downstairs," which makes it deeply noteworthy. It also raises a few questions about Dexter's romance with Lady Mary and whether he might be more than a little willing to consider his options.

Continuing with the cast, Downton stalwarts Jim Carter and Phyllis Logan return as Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes; Brendan Coyle and Joanne Froggat as Mr. Bates and Anna; and Robert James-Collier as Thomas Barrow.

Also returning to downstairs, there's Raquel Cassidy and Kevin Doyle as Miss. Baxter and Mr. Molesley; Michael Fox as Andy and Sophie McShera as Daisy; and Lesley Nicol as Mrs. Patmore.

(For the record, we are all very disappointed with whoever thought it was ok to photoshop Lesley Nicol into someone near-unrecognizable.)

Guest stars for the third film include Joely Richardson (Renegade Nell), Simon Russell Beale (Mary & George), British-American actor Arty Froushan (House of the Dragon), and American actor Alessandro Nivola (Black Narcissus). 

As always, Julian Fellowes wrote the screenplay, with director Simon Curtis once again at the helm..

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale will premiere with special advanced screenings on Wednesday, September 10, before opening globally in theaters on Friday, September 12, 2025.