2025 is the biggest year yet forThe Gilded AgeandDownton Abbeycreator Julian Fellowes. Premiering in 2010,Downton Abbeybecame a global phenomenon, lasting for 6 seasons and three feature films, withDownton Abbey: The Grand Finaleset to the final chapter of the Crawley family. In 2022, Fellowes launchedThe Gilded Ageon HBO. The"American Downton Abbey"was set in 19th-century New York City’s high society.The Gilded Ageis another hit for Fellowes, with season 3 soon to premiere on HBO.
Julian Fellowes won an Academy Award for writingGosford Parkin 2001, butDownton Abbeyis what Fellowes is best known for. Beginning in 1912 and spanning into 1930 inDownton Abbey: The Grand Finale, the saga of the Crawley family and their loyal servants, has delighted audiences for 15 years. WithThe Gilded Age, however, Fellowes proved he could translateDownton’s soapy formula into an American setting.The Gilded Age’s themes of wealth, class, excess, have proven to be as addictive asDownton.In 2025,audiences will have an embarrassment ofDowntonAbbeyandThe Gilded Ageriches.
Why 2025 Is The Biggest Year Yet For The Gilded Age Creator Julian Fellowes
2025 Is Even Bigger Than 2022
Julian Fellowes is poised fora monumental 2025 withThe Gilded Ageseason 3 andDownton Abbey: The Grand Finalepremieringin the summer and fall.The Gilded Ageseason 3arrives June 22 on HBO, bringing audiences to 1884 as Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) continues her climb up New York high society and threatening to upend her family by promising her daughter, Gladys (Taissa Farmiga), to marry the Duke of Buckingham (Ben Lamb). Meanwhile, Agnes Van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) must cope with her sister, Ada Forte (Cynthia Nixon), becoming the new mistress of their home.
On September 12,Downton Abbey: The Grand Finalepremieres in theaters.The thirdDowntonmovie arrives just a month afterThe Gilded Ageseason 3’s finale, which is peak Julian Fellowes for his legions of fans. In 2022,The Gilded Ageseason 1premiered in January withDownton Abbey: A New Erafollowing in May. However,The Gilded Agehad to prove it could matchDownton’s success, andA New Erasuffered from movie theaters still recovering from COVID-19 lockdown. In 2025,The Gilded Ageis a bona fide hit in its own right, andDownton Abbey’s final film is a must-see poised to make history.
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale Is The End Of An Era
Audiences Are Saying Farewell To The Crawleys
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finalepromises to be the finalDowntonfilm, andthe end of the Crawley family’s story as audiences have come to know it.Downton Abbey: The Grand Finalebrings the Crawleys into the 1930s, where"they must embrace change, and welcome a new chapter,“according to the film’s official logline. Most of theDownton Abbeycastreassembled for the conclusion to their cinematic trilogy, with Paul Giamatti reprising his role as Harold Levinson, Cora, Countess of Grantham’s (Elizabeth McGovern) brother.
The Downton Abbey story has always been about how the Crawleys face change.
Sadly,Downton Abbey: The Grand Finalewill the firstDowntonproject without Maggie Smith, who played Lady Violet, the Dowager Countess of Grantham.Maggie Smith passed away in September 2024, butDownton Abbey: A New Eraended with Lady Violet’s death after she announced she was ill inDownton Abbey(2019). TheDownton Abbeystory has always been about how the Crawleys face change, with Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) transitioning into the head of the family.
The Gilded Age Season 4 & Downton Abbey Spinoffs Could Happen
Will Young Violet Crawley Appear In The Gilded Age
The Gilded Agehas been a sturdy performer for HBO, and season 2 was more highly rated onRotten Tomatoesthan season 1. While HBO hasn’t orderedThe Gilded Ageseason 4 yet, there’s no reason to expect the new episodes will be less well-received by audiences. It’sunknown if Julian Fellowes has a master plan for how longThe Gilded Agecould run, but the NYC-set series has been embraced byDownton Abbeyfans and has found its own appreciative audience.
WithDownton Abbey: The Grand Finaleending the original Crawleys saga, there has long been speculation about spinoffs, perhaps set later in the 20th century, about Lady Mary’s son, George, and the youngest Crawley generation. Fellowes has also entertained the idea of aDownton Abbeyprequel about young Lady Violet, and he speculated about Lady Violet appearing inThe Gilded Ageduring the conception of HBO’s series. Whatever happens next, 2025 is truly a banner year for fans of Julian Fellowes' soapy historical dramas.
