It’s been three months since the world lost an irreplaceable gem, the iconicDame Maggie Smith,who passed away in September 2024 at the age of 89. Before her death, she was involved in theDownton Abbeyfranchise as Dowager Countess, who also passed away in the second film adaptation,Downton Abbey: A New Era. While we can expect the character to be honored in the upcomingDownton Abbey 3, executive producerGareth Neamehas announced that the honor will extend to the actress herself.
During an interview withTVLineamid the promotion of Peacock’sThe Day of the Jackal, Neame said:
“The fact that Dame Maggie herself has now passed away since that time, I do think, has given a real added poignancy to a story that we would have planned anyway. The loss of the Dowager, it now feels far more significant that you see actors playing characters mourning the family matriarch. But I also see actors mourning the matriarch of the show, and it feels more genuine and more meaningful.”
Smith starred inthe entireDownton Abbeyseriesfrom 2010 to 2015 as Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess. Her performance earned her three Primetime Emmy Awards, four Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Golden Globe Award. She also appeared in the two feature films released in 2019 and 2022.
‘Downton Abbey 3’ Will Bid a Final Farewell to Maggie Smith
Following the veteran actress’s passing, Neame, like Smith’s fellow stars, paid homage to her memory with touching statements. The EP called her loss “the end of an era,” adding, “we will never see the likes of Dame Maggie Smith ever again.” He also believed that theDownton Abbeycast and crew’s “huge respect” for her “will come across in the next movie.” Echoing his words,Hugh Bonneville,who plays Violet’s son, Robert, in the production, mentioned thatthe threequel will be “a lasting tribute” to Smith, saying:
“We finished a third – and I think probably final – Downton Abbey film this summer, which will come out next September. That is a wonderful sort of closing off of all the stories, so it’s a proper film for the fans. It’s very much set in the house and saying goodbye to all these characters, and we obviously say goodbye to Dame Maggie, which was very poignant on screen and now in real life. She’ll be sorely missed. But the final film will obviously be a great lasting tribute to her.”
The thirdDownton Abbeyfilm willhit theaterson August 13, 2025. Catch up on its prequel on Hulu, and stay tuned to Collider for future updates about the new film.
Downton Abbey 3
Downton Abbey 3 brings back the beloved Crawley family and their servants as they navigate new challenges and adventures in the 1930s. Following the events of A New Era, the Crawleys face evolving societal changes and personal upheavals.
WATCH ON HULU
