Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale releases new character posters ahead of emotional final instalment
Fans can now get a new look at all the returning faces ahead of the film's release in September.
Downton Abbey is set to wrap up once and for all after the third film arrives this September – and following the release of a new trailer last month, fans have now been given another glimpse at the upcoming Grand Finale.
That's because a host of character posters have been released on the official Downton social media channels, offering new looks at most of the major returning characters, including Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Talbot, Hugh Bonneville as Robert Crawley and Jim Carter as Charlie Carson to name just three.
Also included among the posters is Oscar nominee Paul Giamatti, who is set to reprise his role as Harold Levinson in the film, more than a decade after his one and only previous appearance back in the 2013 Christmas special.
The likes of Elizabeth McGovern, Laura Carmichael, Joanne Froggatt, Penelope Wilton, Michael Fox, Harry Hadden-Paton and Dominic West are among the others to feature – you can check out all the character posters below.
In addition to the plethora of returning faces, the film is also set to introduce a couple of new characters, with Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola and Simon Russell Beale the big names set to make their Downton debuts in the final chapter.
However, one star who won't be appearing is Matthew Goode, with the recent trailer explaining why his character Henry Talbot will be absent from the film.
A dramatic moment in the teaser shows that he and Lady Mary are going through a divorce, something which has caused a major scandal in their social circles – you can watch it below for a taste of what's to come.
While we don't have too many specific plot details beyond what we can glean from the trailer, Focus Features has released a brief synopsis which teases that the new film will follow the Crawley family and their staff as they enter the 1930s.
It reads: "When Mary finds herself at the centre 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."
Meanwhile, we also know that the film will pay tribute to the late, great Maggie Smith – who memorably played Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham, in the series and the two previous films.
Speaking on Virgin Radio UK last November, Hugh Bonneville explained that "we obviously say goodbye to Dame Maggie, which was very poignant on screen and now in real life".
He added: "She’ll be sorely missed. But the final film will obviously be a great lasting tribute to her."
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale will be released in UK cinemas on 12th September 2025. All seasons of Downton Abbey are available to stream on ITVX.
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Authors
Patrick Cremona is the Senior Film Writer at Radio Times, and looks after all the latest film releases both in cinemas and on streaming. He has been with the website since October 2019, and in that time has interviewed a host of big name stars and reviewed a diverse range of movies.
