Dominic West cast in Downton Abbey Christmas sequel – the show that shot Lily James to fame
DOMINIC West will appear in the Downton Abbey sequel – the show that originally shot Lily James to fame.
The 51-year-old actor is set to join the Crawley family this Christmas for the highly-anticipated second instalment.
The screen version of the TV series, with originals such as Michelle Dockery, Dame Maggie Smith and Jim Carter is expected to hit the cinemas in December.
Dominic will be joined by other new cast members including Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock and Nathalie Baye.
However, Lily who shot to fame in the ITV period drama will not be reprising her role as Lady Rose MacClare.
The 32-year-old actress was one key member of the cast who didn’t reprise her role from the TV show in the 2019 film.
In October 2020, rumours were sparked that the actress was dating 50-year-old married Dominic West, after the pair were spotted kissing in Rome.
On October 12, 2020, pictures emerged of the two looking very cosy in Rome.
The pair were spotted as they spent two nights in a suite at the top of swanky Hotel De La Ville in Rome.
On October 13, 2020, Dominic West and his wife Catherine Fitzgerald issued a joint statement saying that their marriage “was strong”.
Lily, who has since found worldwide fame in other films like Mamma Mia 2 and Cinderella, explained that there was “no space” for her character.
Chatting to People, Lily previously opened up about the reasons behind her absence from the movie: “My character Rose moved off to New York, so it would be farfetched to bring her back.
“I would have loved to have come back for a scene, but for a movie it can’t be like a Christmas special and it needs to be a focused storyline. There was no space for Rose.”
Downton creator Julian Fellowes will once again write the film’s screenplay, with Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning Gareth Neame and Emmy Award-winning Liz Trubridge back to produce.
The initial film followed a Royal Visit to the Crawley family and Downton staff from the King and Queen of England and ended with a ball fitting for the Royal Family.
In September, Downton favourite Jim Carter, who plays the beloved butler Carson, sent fans wild by revealing that he has already seen the script for the sequel film.
“It’s got all the same characters in it, all the regular characters. I think the will is that, COVID willing, we’ll film it next year.”
The actor revealed: “The script for a second film is there, we’ve seen it, it’s very funny.
Meanwhile, Hugh Bonneville told fans that it was “good to be back” as he took to Twitter to reveal that he was on set.
The star, who plays Lord Grantham, teased his fans in February saying that he’d had a sneak peek at the script.
Maggie Smith, who plays Violet Crawley and Nathalie Baye will appear together in Downton 2, Nathalie will play an old friend of Violet’s who comes to visit her.
Other favourite faces include Elizabeth McGovern as Lord Grantham’s wife Cora, Michelle Dockery’s who plays Lady Mary and husband Henry portrayed by Matthew Goode, along with sister Lady Edith, played by Laura Carmichael.
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Gareth Neame, the film’s producer and executive chairman of Carnival Films said: “After a very challenging year with so many of us separated from family and friends, it is a huge comfort to think that better times are ahead and that next Christmas we will be re-united with the much beloved characters of Downton Abbey.”
Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski said: “There’s no place like home for the holidays, and we can’t imagine a better gift than getting to reunite with Julian, Gareth, and the entire family in 2021 to bring the Crawleys back home for their fans.”