EXCLUSIVE: Downton Abbey is nearing its end, and fans are flocking to the franchise to refresh their memories and reminisce about the franchise ahead of the highly anticipated conclusion’s theatrical release this week.
Combined viewership in July and August across all six seasons of Downton Abbey as well as the two prior films, Downton Abbey and Downton Abbey: A New Era, has more than doubled compared to the combined viewership for March, April and May, per NBCUniversal’s internal data shared with Deadline.
Per the company, these are record numbers for the franchise on Peacock, illustrating quite an appetite for the forthcoming finale. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale hits theaters on September 12.
Audiences are in luck, though, because they won’t even have to wait until Friday for new Downton Abbey material. NBC will air a special celebrating the franchise’s conclusion Wednesday night at 9 p.m., and it’ll stream next day on Peacock.
There is plenty of precedent for major theatrical releases, or even new seasons of a popular series, renewing interest in past offerings. Jurassic World: Rebirth did just that for the Jurassic Park franchise over the summer.
Downton Abbey ran for six seasons, spanning 52 episodes and five Christmas specials. On the film side, Downton Abbey was released in 2019, with Downton Abbey: A New Era following in 2022. The first two movies grossed more than $287 million combined globally.
Simon Curtis returns to direct the final installment after helming A New Era. Fellowes wrote all three movies.
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, from Focus Features and Universal Pictures International, is the third and final film in the movie series based on the PBS period drama created by Julian Fellowes. The film will follow the Crawley family and their staff as they enter the 1930s. When Mary finds herself at the center 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.
The familiar cast also returns for The Grand Finale, which features Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Raquel Cassidy, Brendan Coyle, Michelle Dockery, Kevin Doyle, Michael Fox, Joanne Froggatt, Paul Giamatti, Harry Hadden-Paton, Robert James-Collier, Allen Leech, Phyllis Logan, Elizabeth McGovern, Sophie McShera, Lesley Nicol, Dominic West, Penelope Wilton, Joely Richardson, Paul Copley and Douglas Reith.
New to the franchise cast are Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola, Simon Russell Beale and Arty Froushan.
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