Is Downton Abbey Over? Julian Fellowes On Skipping The Second World War And One Way It Could Come Back

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Warning: SPOILERS for Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale are ahead!

The popular TV show *Downton Abbey* concluded in 2015 after six seasons, but the story continued with three subsequent films. With the upcoming release of *Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale* in 2025, many believe this beloved historical drama has reached its end. However, the show’s creator, Julian Fellowes, has hinted at a possible return for the franchise and explained why the series never explored the events of World War II.

Why Downton Abbey Skipped World War II

The final installment of *Downton Abbey*, set in 1930, follows the characters eighteen years after the events surrounding the Titanic and just one year after the Wall Street Crash. According to creator Julian Fellowes, he always intended for Mary Talbot to eventually inherit Downton Abbey, with her parents, Robert and Cora, retiring to the former home of Violet Grantham. Fellowes felt this was the natural conclusion to the story and didn’t want to extend it beyond this point.

I dislike outdated hairstyles and unnatural performances. Continuing down this path would be risky and could ultimately lead to serious conflict, like another world war.

I agree with Julian Fellowes that extending the *Downton Abbey* story all the way to the start of World War II in 1939 wouldn’t have worked. Covering thirteen years was manageable with a full season of television, but trying to fit that much time into a couple of two-hour movies feels like too big a leap. Perhaps if they’d made a few more *Downton Abbey* films, reaching the late 1930s or early 1940s would have been possible, but ultimately the series ending with World War I is what we have.

How Julian Fellowes Thinks Downton Abbey Could Return

Despite the new movie being titled *The Grand Finale*, there’s still speculation about whether *Downton Abbey* could return in the future. Although Julian Fellowes has repeatedly stated this is the last we’ll see of these characters, he recently told EW he wouldn’t rule out revisiting the world of *Downton Abbey* with a fresh perspective. He suggested:

I wouldn’t be opposed to returning to the world of Downton Abbey, but it would need to be set in a new historical period with fresh challenges for the characters. If that could happen, I’m open to it, but we’ll have to wait and see what the future holds.

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One idea for a future story could be to explore Downton Abbey’s history by going back in time to the late 1800s or even earlier. However, this might be similar to Julian Fellowes’s current show, *The Gilded Age*, though he has suggested a connection between the two shows is possible. Another option is to move the story forward to the 1960s or 70s, which would let us see what life is like for the grown-up children of characters like Mary and Edith.

Although the story of *Downton Abbey* is currently finished, we’ll be sure to share any news if it continues in the future. You can still enjoy the series and the first two films – along with *The Grand Finale* in theaters – by subscribing to Peacock.

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2025-09-25 16:08