Julian Fellowes Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

“I have very little to say except that I think it very charming and kind of you all to give us your Sunday night,” said a disarming Julian Fellowes at the NYC premiere of Downton Abbey: A New Era last Sunday. Distributor Focus Features – and the broader industry — hopes audiences will give the film many more Sunday nights, and other days and dayparts, jumpstarting the return to theaters of older demos.

“Downton Abbey: A New Era,” you may need or want a brief refresher on what happened in the first film.Released in 2019, the aptly named “Downton Abbey” is a feature film continuation of the wildly popular TV series that ran for six series and wrapped up in 2015. Show creator Julian Fellowes returned to write the “Downton Abbey” film, and frequent director of the show’s TV episodes Michael Engler directed the movie.Luckily, a short four-minute video recap of the events of the first “Downton Abbey” movie has been released online, with actor Kevin Doyle (who plays Mr.

“Downton Abbey: A New Era,” the follow-up to the 2019 feature film and the latest in the story of the aristocratic Crawley family established in the hit series, earned $1.05 million in its Thursday box office previews from 3,300 screens. “A New Era” opens on 3,815 screens this weekend, which is the widest opening for a Focus Features film in the specialty distributor’s history.

Highly anticipated Downton Abbey: A New Era made $1.050 million in Thursday previews that began at 7 p.m. at more than 3,800 theaters. It is Focus Features’ widest ever U.S. release and one that comes with a weight of responsibility as the film to finally catapult older demos back into theaters. Focus Features distribution chief Lisa Bunnell recently promised cinema owners it would. “We have our own superheroes,” she said at CinemaCon.

 reunites the beloved sprawling ensemble cast that make up the extended Crawley family and their many household staff members, there is one performer notably absent from the new film. Matthew Goode, who joined the franchise as Henry Talbot in season 5 and later wed Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery), sadly is nowhere to be seen onscreen despite previously returning for the franchise’s first film.Goode's absence, however, doesn’t come as a total surprise given that he has not appeared in any of the trailers or images leading up to ’s theatrical debut.

exciting and neeeeew than that old show.There are two concurrent plots here, both of which play like rudimentary fan fiction. The Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith), who’s in poor health, is shocked when she learns she’s inherited a villa in the south of France from a summer fling decades earlier.

Andrew Wallenstein President and Chief Media AnalystWhen “Downton Abbey: The New Era” arrives in U.S. theaters this week, it will represent just the latest iteration of a franchise more than a decade in operation.Julian Fellowes, the Emmy-winning writer of the period-drama megahit, and Gareth Neame, executive chairman of Carnival Films, discuss their collaboration on six TV seasons and two films on the latest episode of the Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” including their hopes that there is still more to come for their beloved period drama.“We can go on with these people as long as the audience wants to go on seeing them and as long as they enjoy them,” said Neame of the “Downton” characters.

When thinking of modern television and its lasting legacy, three shows come to mind as standing tall in either acclaim or significance. First, “Breaking Bad,” which lives on currently through “Better Call Saul” on AMC and is still considered potentially the best show of all time.

is already filming new episodes on location in New York and Rhode Island as it continues to explore the growing social and economic war between old money and new in the American period drama created by Julian Fellowes. While speaking to ET, Fellowes as well as stars Cynthia Nixon and Christine Baranski opened up about what they love about the series and the sprawling ensemble’s incredible roster of Tony winners and nominees. “We’re in production now,” Nixon confirmed, explaining that the series set in the late 1800s is “such a fascinating part of history, and New York history in particular.

Antonio Ferme editorThe Crawley’s are back — but with a twist.“Downton Abbey,” the hit British TV series that ran for six seasons on PBS, is making its way onto the big screen for a second time. Rather than spawning a seventh season, writer and creator Julian Fellowes explained why he decided to transform the series into a film franchise.“I think the cast particularly had enough of working from February to November, whereas a film is eight weeks out of their lives every two and a half years,” Fellowes told Variety on Sunday at the New York premiere at the Metropolitan Opera House.He continued, “It’s a different commitment.

Production has officially begun on Season 2 and HBO is giving fans a first look at the set in a new photo of Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector above. Shooting is underway in Rhode Island and New York state.

Michelle Dockery and Laura Carmichael stick together on the red carpet at the premiere of Downton Abbey: A New Era held at the Metropolitan Opera House on Sunday (May 15) in New York City.

When the teaser trailer for “Downton Abbey: A New Era” premiered last year, it didn’t take the standard route of listing the cast for the film. Instead, the promo elegantly trumpeted the presence of Lord Grantham, Lady Grantham, et al.

A great change! Fans have been immersed in the historical drama of HBO Max’s The Gilded Age since its season 1 debut.

Die hard fans of Downton Abbey will all have wondered just what it’s like to step inside the historic home. It’s no secret that Downton is in fact a real place, and tourists flock to experience the upstairs-downstairs life depicted in two blockbuster films and an incredible six series on TV. As Downton Abbey: A New Era arrives in cinemas, we meet Lady Fiona Carnarvon who opened up her outstanding home - Highclere Castle in Hampshire - to create one of our most treasured TV shows of all time.

EXCLUSIVE: When Downton Abbey first burst on the scene in 2010, the Julian Fellowes-created series quickly drew audiences and made headlines for its unique spin on the traditional British period drama. This was not your grandmother’s upstairs/downstairs look at the upper crust, rather its take on the aristocracy gave contemporary audiences characters and storylines they could relate to with strong women, quotable dialogue and tons of heart.

“We have our own superheroes here at Focus Feature and they are going to bring older filmgoers back to your movie theaters,” Lisa Bunnell, Focus Features distribution chief, promised thousands of cinema execs at the Universal presentation today.

EXCLUSIVE: HBO Max is developing Motherland Bounce, a comedy based on the life of Hasidic hip-hop star Nissim Black, from writer/comedian Moshe Kasher and The Gilded Age executive producer/director Salli Richardson-Whitfield as part of her overall deal with HBO.

EXCLUSIVE: HBO’s The Gilded Age is adding two more Tony winners to its cast for Season 2. Laura Benanti and Robert Sean Leonard are set to recur on the period drama, created, written and executive produced by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes.

EXCLUSIVE: Julian Fellowes’s breakout HBO period drama The Gilded Age is expanding its cast in a big way for Season 2, going from 12 to 24 series regulars, and deepening the Upstairs, Downstairs feel of the show. That includes thirteen actors who recurred in Season 1 and have been promoted to series regulars: Kelli O’Hara as Aurora Fane, Donna Murphy as Mrs. Astor, Debra Monk as Armstrong, Kristine Nielsen as Mrs. Bauer, Taylor Richardson as Bridget, Ben Ahlers as Jack Trotter, Kelley Curran as Turner, Douglas Sills as Baudin aka Borden, Celia Keenan-Bolger as Mrs. Bruce, Michael Cerveris as Watson, Erin Wilhelmi as Adelheid Weber, Patrick Page as Richard Clay and Sullivan Jones as T. Thomas Fortune.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans EditorCasting directors Bernard Telsey and Adam Caldwell are already back at work on season two of HBO’s “The Gilded Age.”The series stars Christine Baranski as Agnes van Rhijn, a socialite living in early-1880s New York City with her sister, Ada Brook, played by Cynthia Nixon. “Downton Abbey” creator Julian Fellowes brings wealth, scheming and social hierarchy to New York, and with that a wealth of Broadway actors who make appearances throughout the first season.Telsey and Caldwell spoke with Variety about how they were able to bring Nathan Lane, Bill Irwin and Steven Spinella to the show.

reunited for the franchise’s first official movie, Michelle Dockery and her many co-stars are coming back together for the anticipated sequel,. While promoting her new Netflix series,, the actress opened up to ET’s Lauren Zima about the new film and the possibility of more in the future. With, “it felt right after the first film did so well.

The Gilded Age ended its freshman run on a high note, with its finale earning 1.6 million viewers across HBO platforms.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaSPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers for the season finale of “The Gilded Age,” which premiered on HBO on March 21 and is now available to stream on HBO Max.At last.After all of the scheming and manipulating, the leveraging of favors and fortune, Bertha Russell has her ball. And it’s a complete and total triumph with Mrs. Caroline Astor (Donna Murphy), the social doyenne that Bertha (Carrie Coon) has spent the bulk of “The Gilded Age’s” nine-episode season attempting to win over, not only attending, but bringing along the other members of the social hierarchy.It’s the result of a risky bet by Bertha that making Mrs.

SPOILER ALERT: The following story reveals major plot points from the Season 1 finale of HBO’s The Gilded Age.

Daniel D'Addario Chief TV CriticMonday night brings the end of what has been one of 2022’s most indulgent pleasures — and one that calls to mind the TV of a decade prior. HBO’s “The Gilded Age” has made a strong argument for the efficacy of series creator Julian Fellowes’ method as a deliverer of narrative delight.Every episode has been an hourlong fantasia in which the mind, unbothered by a plot that seems at best ornamental, is free to roam — a pleasant, happy state of what Gen Z might call “smooth-brained” experience, untroubled and uncomplicated by the firing of synapses or the development of nuance.

The Gilded Age characters and their real-life counterparts, below.Julian Fellowes doesn’t mask the true identity of Donna Murphy's character in The Gilded Age: Mrs. Astor was, indeed, a real person, and the queen bee of New York society. Although other women had the same family name, there was only one who was considered the Mrs.

EXCLUSIVE: Lionsgate is finalizing a deal to acquire a minority stake in London and LA-based management and production company 42, we can reveal.

EXCLUSIVE: Alice Eve (Belgravia) has been tapped as the lead of CBS’ drama pilot Early Edition, a gender-swapped reboot of the late-1990s series headlined by Kyle Chandler.

Lady Mary’s brush with scandal in season 1 of “Downton Abbey” is based on actual events according to series creator Julian Fellowes.

Anita Rani may usually be seen climbing a mountain, soaking up the great outdoors and being at one with nature, but the Countryfile presenter also has a passion for a very different location - the set of period drama Downton Abbey.Exclusive: Lesley Nicol teases Downton Abbey sequel - 'It made me cry'"I'd say yes to a cameo role in a heartbeat," she told HELLO!, celebrating her dream presenting gig as co-host of Downton Abbey: The Official Podcast. "I've definitely dropped massive hints."WATCH: Will you be watching the Downton Abbey sequel?The podcasts see 44-year-old Anita interviewing cast members including Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary), Hugh Bonneville (the Earl of Grantham) and Elizabeth McGovern (the Countess), as well as going behind the scenes of new film Downton Abbey: A New Era.MORE: Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery shares exciting news after confirming engagementREAD: Downton Abbey writer Julian Fellowes on the difficulties of killing off beloved characters"I was starstruck by all of them.

Wilson Chapman editor“Downton Abbey” is gearing up to return to the silver screen with its second film, “Downton Abbey: A New Era” this May. But now, the British TV phenomenon is also hopping into the audio realm with “Downton Abbey: The Official Podcast.”Hosted by Rotten Tomatoes awards editor Jacqueline Coley and British radio and TV presenter Anita Rani, the rewatch podcast will cover every episode of the ITV hit, which focuses on the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their staff of servants at the Downton Abbey estate during the 1910s and ’20s.

sequel,. While speaking to ET, Nicol reflects on a decade of playing the cook in charge of the downstairs kitchen staff in the acclaimed British drama and what inspired her return to the stage. Created by Julian Fellowes, first launched in the U.K. in 2010 before quickly becoming an international sensation, thanks to its captivating stories about the lives upstairs versus downstairs at the Crawley family estate in Yorkshire county in the early 1900s.

Anita Rani may usually be seen climbing a mountain, soaking up the great outdoors and being at one with nature, but the Countryfile presenter also has a passion for a very different location - the set of period drama Downton Abbey.Exclusive: Lesley Nicol teases Downton Abbey sequel - 'It made me cry'"I'd say yes to a cameo role in a heartbeat," she told HELLO!, celebrating her dream presenting gig as co-host of Downton Abbey: The Official Podcast. "I've definitely dropped massive hints."WATCH: Will you be watching the Downton Abbey sequel?The podcasts see 44-year-old Anita interviewing cast members including Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary), Hugh Bonneville (the Earl of Grantham) and Elizabeth McGovern (the Countess), as well as going behind the scenes of new film Downton Abbey: A New Era.MORE: Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery shares exciting news after confirming engagementREAD: Downton Abbey writer Julian Fellowes on the difficulties of killing off beloved characters"I was starstruck by all of them.

Welcome to Deadline’s International Disruptors, a feature where we shine a spotlight on key executives and companies shaking up the offshore marketplace. This week, we’re talking to Carnival Films executive chairman Gareth Neame, the producer behind the global British hit franchise Downton Abbey. The company, which Neame sold to NBC Universal in 2008, continues to be one of the heavy hitters when it comes to producing high-end dramas that have global reach. 

Michelle Dockery! Not only has the Downton Abbey star got engaged, she will soon be seen on the big screen for the film's highly anticipated sequel - and now it has been announced that she will be teaming up with her co-star Michael Fox for an exciting new venture.MORE: Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery confirms engagement to Phoebe Waller-Bridge's brotherThe pair, who first met on the set of hit TV period drama, have been signed by Decca Records Label Group.WATCH: Downton Abbey shares new trailer - but is there trouble ahead for one couple?After becoming firm friends during filming, they soon discovered their shared passion for music. Connecting immediately, both on voice and guitar, Micheal and Michelle started playing regularly as a duo.MORE: Downton Abbey's Elizabeth McGovern on watching on-screen daughters 'grow with confidence'READ: Downton Abbey writer Julian Fellowes on the difficulties of killing off beloved charactersNow, six years later, they make it official with their first record deal and debut EP, The Watching Silence, due for release on 6 May.