Downton Abbey movie to start shooting in September

The ‘Downton Abbey’ movie is set to start filming in September, according to reports.

Though kept largely under wraps until now – aside from the odd clue from cast-members while being interviewed on other matters – it looks like writer Lord Fellowes’ long-in-gestation project is now fulling rolling.

A source told The Sun: “Film bosses have requested the services of crew members and accountants to work on the picture.

“A budget has been set and now it’s a case of getting everything in place to start shooting.

“It would take something big to stop the project from happening now.”

Jim Carter – aka Carson – let slip in January that the cast had been asked to keep certain dates free, and it emerged in March that the cast-members involved have all been sent a script.

That news coming from Jeremy Swift, who played butler Septimus Spratt from series four onwards.

Appearing on ‘Lorraine’, he blabbed: “There is a film script, which we’ve all been sent.

“But it disappeared mission impossible stylee from our emails. It’s supposed to be filming this year, but it hasn’t been locked down yet.”

Well, it sounds like now it has.

Whether Maggie Smith will be involved as the Dowager Countess, is not known, but she doesn’t sound keen.

Speaking with brilliant frankness at the BFI last month, she said: “They talk about there being a film but who knows. I hope you might tell me if you do know.

“I just think it’s squeezing it dry, do you know what I mean? I don’t know what it could possibly be. It’s too meandering.

“Anyway, that’s not my problem, is it? That’s the Lord’s problem.”

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