This article was published on May 27th, 2019

The bells have been rung. The china is set, silverware in place. Footmen stand guard while the lady’s maids wait for the guests to arrive. A 20’s roadster pulls up the seemingly endless driveway. The camera pans up, and suddenly the audience is transported back to the enchanted English estate, Downton Abbey. 

This fall, the story of Lord Grantham, Lady Grantham, Lady Mary, Lady Edith, Bates, Carson, Tom Branson, Thomas, Anna, Mrs. Patmore, and the rest of the cast heads for the silver screen: Downtown Abbey, the movie, is set to be released this September.

The year is 1927. Just two years before the great stock market crash that might potentially affect everyone involved. While the world turns faster and faster, life has also changed for the Grantham family and the residents of a large estate in the English countryside. A large majority of the cast will return for the feature, including Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess of Grantham.

Also returning for the flick is the villain turned redeemed gay hero Thomas Barrow. Thomas was the seedy, manipulative antagonist for much of the first few seasons, but returned from the Great War a changes man. He used to be the head valet in the TV series and was eventually promoted to Butler at the end. His character and the actor who played him, Rob James-Collier is a delicious piece of Downton Abbey eye candy. As well as sexy co-star Allen Leech as Tom Branson.

While fans of the TV series from PBS have to wait until the fall for the release of the movie, producers have just dropped the first two full length trailers for the movie and the gay plots thicken! A queer kiss between Thomas and an unknown man is visible in one trailer, while him dancing with a man is featured in another trailer. While the movie picks up a few years after the show left off, a new era has arrived at Downton with a visit from the King and Queen of England. The prep work enough is going to make the Abbey turn.

With stunning costumes, stupendous acting, an ensemble cast from the original TV series, an LGBT story line, and set at the famous English country estate, Downtown Abbey will be one of the movies on everyone’s lips, coming this fall.