Dowager Countess Makes A Shocking Revelation In Downton Abbey 2 Teaser

Downton Abbey is returning, and this time around, the tale takes us back to the yesteryears of Dowager Countess’ love life.

Focus Features dropped the teaser trailer for Downton Abbey: A New Era, which teases the story will take place near the French Riviera.

The clip begins with Maggie Smith’s Dowager Countess recalling, “Years ago, before you were born, I met a man… and now I’ve come into the possession of a villa in the South of France.”

Lady Mary Crawley, who’s taken by surprise, exclaims, “What?”

Some scenic shots of, presumably, the French villa and other events follow. We also get glimpses of Tom Branson’s second wedding, and Carson says, “They better be warned. The British are coming.”

The teaser ends with Dowager Countess dramatically teasing, “And with that, I will say goodnight and leave you to discuss my mysterious past,” as she exits the room.

The title card reads, “Focus Features Cordially Invites You To The Grandest Escape Of The Year.”

And, man, does it look like an escape. About 1 minute and 35 seconds long, the teaser doesn’t reveal much but is enough for fans who have been waiting for the sequel for two years since the first film came out.

DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA – Official Teaser Trailer:

DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA - Official Teaser Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters May 20

In a recent interview with PEOPLE, creator Julian Fellowes called the movies “extensions of the series” and said the sequel will pick up where the first film left off,

It’s really a new era. The further the ’20s went along, the more the world was changing in so many ways. Everything from entertainment to transport was really different by the end of the ’20s. That’s what we’re referring to in that.

As we know from the last film, Mary may not be the titular head of the household, but she is effectively running the show. We take that further. We’re trying to mark the change — the fact that Crawleys of Downton are nearly in the 1930s, which is merely the beginning of the modern world.

Director Simon Curtis helms the sequel with Fellowes writing the script.

The original cast members returning are Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Laura Carmichael, and Jim Carter, among others. New faces joining the sequel include Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye, and Dominic West.

Downton Abbey: A New Era will hit the cinemas on March 18, 2022.

About Downton Abbey 2

Downton Abbey 2 is the upcoming sequel to the 2019 film Downton Abbey. The first Downton Abbey film came out almost 4 years after the series ended and continued the storyline from the series, with much of the original cast returning.

Along with the original cast, some new additions including Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye, and Dominic West in undisclosed roles. The screenplay is written by Julian Fellowes, with Gareth Neame and Liz Trubridge producing with Fellowes. Simon Curtis replaced the first film’s director Michael Engler for the sequel.

The films are the continuing story of the Crawley family, wealthy owners of a large estate in the English countryside in the early twentieth century. Although, plot details remain unknown, the synopsis reads, ‘Lord and Lady Grantham request the pleasure of moviegoers’ company at their Yorkshire country estate this Christmas.’