If you, like me, have noticed a kind of old-timey, mansion-shaped hole in your life ever since December 2015, then the question of whether there will be a Downton Abbey movie probably haunts your dreams. Maybe you haven't gotten as far as hoping, because six seasons of delightful interplay between the upstairs and downstairs worlds already felt like a gift enough. But this is a safe space; you can let your deepest wishes out. I've definitely thought about how perfectly the set-up is primed for a deeper dive like you might be able to do in a film version, so now all that's left is to will this idea into being. By, say, planting the idea in the head of someone who could actually make it happen. Like show creator Julian Fellowes, for example. Or by asking show star Michelle Dockery about a Downtown Abbey movie during the press tour for her upcoming show Good Behavior.
That second thing actually happened, and here was Dockery's response: "We'll see... I mean, I'm open to the idea of the film. I'm looking forward to seeing if that happens." Innnnnteresting, no? The phrasing suggests that this isn't the first time that she's had to ponder the idea of a film; it sounds like it might be something that's been thrown around behind the scenes, too. And, even if they haven't, this seems like a pretty good indicator to me that she's DTRTROMTNC. (Down To Reprise The Role Of Mary Talbot Née Crawley.)
At first, I was feeling pretty bummed out that the entire cast had sort of scattered to the winds after the Season 6 finale. But now I'm realizing that the more work everyone does outside of their Downton characters, the less they'll have to worry about being pigeonholed if they ever return to them.
So, please, take your time making this happen, everyone. If there's one thing I've learned from Dan Stevens, it's that if you love someone, you have to let them go. You can't force people to make a Downton Abbey film adaptation, any more than you could force Matthew Crawley to stay with us forever and never go looking for a new career. Even though that's totally what we deserved, and we still feel betrayed every day.
I mean... that was four years ago, and I'm totally over it. What are you talking about?
Images: PBS; Giphy
