The 'Downton Abbey: A New Era' Full Length Trailer Reveals A New Twist
After keeping it theaters only this weekend, Downton Abbey has finally bestowed the new trailer for the feature film sequel, Downton Abbey: A New Era, upon the masses waiting at home. With zero plot synopsis revealed ahead of time, and little to go on other than the entire cast returning, fans have been curious about what significant moment in the life of the Earl of Grantham's family the new film will cover. The new trailer still doesn't reveal much for the plot, but it does give viewers the first glimpse of its new location. And what a location it is.
Like the series initially did, the movies have taken to plucking single moments out of the family's 1920s history on which to focus. The first film featured a royal visit from the reigning monarch, King George V, and his consort, Queen Mary. The second turns out to be something fans had not anticipated: a trip to the continent, as the Crawley family relocates, bag, baggage, and servants to the South of France.
What in heaven's name are the most British of aristocratic families doing that it has found itself on such a lavish vacation? Let Countess Violet explain.
The good news is that the plot doesn't seem to be much more than that, and let's be honest, it doesn't need to. The first Downton Abbey movie plot was a slender reed of an excuse to return to everyone's favorite grand old house and watch them swan around in their finest clothes for a couple of luncheons and a royal ball. Now we'll be getting a few more late 1920s looks and a whole lot of summer Franch fashions of the period. Sure, we'll all happily gossip and speculate about Violet's mysterious past, but let's be honest, we just want to see the Villa.
An updated cast list was released with the trailer. Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Michelle Dockery, Matthew Goode, Harry Hadden-Paton, Allen Leech, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, and Penelope Wilton return as the upstairs cast. Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, Kevin Doyle, Joanne Froggatt, Robert James-Collier, Phyllis Logan, Sophie McShera, and Lesley Nicols are back as the downstairs cast. Raquel Cassidy, who plays Cora's Lady's Maid, Baxter, still is not listed, but the poster lists her character, so we will regard that as an oversight.
Fans should note that it has quietly issued a correction after the one that came with the 15-second teaser. All the royal family actors from the first film are no longer listed; only Tuppence Middleton and Imelda Staunton will return. It seemed odd that both films should include King George's family, which suggests that too was an error made by marketing, who probably have no idea what's happening in this film any more than the rest of us do. Instead, guest stars Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye, and Dominic West will join the family for this installment. Also recently added to the cast list: Belgian actor Jonathan Zaccaï.
Downton Abbey: A New Era arrives in theaters on Friday, March 18, 2022. Pack your bags.
