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When it was announced that the sixth and final season of 鈥淒ownton Abbey鈥� would be followed-up by a film, there was much skepticism from critics and fans alike.听

They were unsure if its large ensemble of characters and storylines would be suited to the big screen. Even some cast members were doubtful about the transition. Before its release, the show鈥檚 Dowager Countess of Grantham, Dame Maggie Smith, voiced her concerns.听Kevin Doyle, who plays footman-turned-teacher Joseph Molesley, recently shared with the Monitor that he had similar qualms.听

鈥淲hen we were filming the last season they mentioned the idea of making a movie and I was always a little trepidatious,鈥� Mr. Doyle recalls. 鈥淏ecause certainly in Britain, I don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 ever been any great precedent of TV shows transferring successfully to the big screen. So I was a little nervous.鈥�

The first film鈥檚 monumental box-office success听upon its release in September 2019听鈥� ultimately grossing more than $190 million worldwide from a budget of $20 million 鈥� immediately proved the doubters wrong.听

Phyllis Logan, who plays head housekeeper Elsie Hughes, says that following the triumphant release of the original film, a sequel was always going to be inevitable. 鈥淭he fact that fans loved the first one so much almost dictated that we had to do another one,鈥� she says in an interview.

鈥淒ownton Abbey: A New Era,鈥� which opens May 20 in U.S. theaters, is basically split into two separate storylines. After the dowager countess learns that she has inherited a villa in the south of France from a man she briefly knew in the 1860s, a group of the family travels down to inspect it. Meanwhile, back at Downton, a film crew wishes to use the estate as a location for a new silent movie, meaning that the staff has to look after the expectant cast.听

Katherine Byrne, a lecturer in English at Ulster University in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, who has taught extensively about the show, suspects that Julian Fellowes 鈥� 鈥淒ownton Abbey鈥� creator and the writer behind both films 鈥撎齭pecifically picked these plots as he had determined two aspects of life that people have missed the most during the pandemic: 鈥渉olidays abroad and the movies 鈥� hence the scenes filmed in the south of France look more like a James Bond film than anything from Downton,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut it gives viewers what they have been craving.鈥� 听

鈥淎 mystery ingredient鈥�

Going into production on the latest film, Mr. Doyle was once again concerned. This time around, he was worried that they wouldn鈥檛 be able to 鈥渢op the storyline from the first movie.鈥� That鈥檚 despite the fact that Mr. Fellowes, who previously won the best original screenplay Oscar for 鈥淕osford Park,鈥� has repeatedly shown that he knows exactly what 鈥淒ownton Abbey鈥� fans want to see.

鈥淚t takes an extraordinary person to create something which touches so many people across the world,鈥� says Ms. Logan. 鈥淭here are so many elements that make him such a great storyteller, especially since he has to integrate so many wonderful characters. Plus, there鈥檚 a mystery ingredient to his writing that you just can鈥檛 put your finger on.鈥�

What makes the writing all the more impressive is just how seamlessly 鈥淒ownton Abbey鈥� has evolved from television to film. Not only does it look 鈥渓usher and grander,鈥� according to Ms. Logan, but it allows Mr. Fellowes to tell a 鈥渂igger story that still has intimate moments.鈥�

Viewers continue to see 鈥淒ownton Abbey鈥� in droves because it鈥檚 鈥渁n opportunity to reunite with old friends,鈥� explains Dr. Byrne. 鈥淚t also allows audiences to immerse themselves in the sumptuous costumes and sets. Even the Abbey itself looks like it was built to be enjoyed on the big screen.鈥�

When it鈥檚 at its best, 鈥淒ownton Abbey鈥� has the 鈥渦nique ability to provide viewers with an escape from hard times,鈥� adds Dr. Byrne, who notes that the show immediately rose to prominence in September 2010, just a few years after the 2008 banking crash. 鈥淚t offered the luxury of aristocratic wealth to viewers who in real life were dealing with a global recession.鈥澨�

Today, an ongoing pandemic and worldwide cost-of-living increases offer a somewhat similar backdrop. 鈥淒ownton Abbey: A New Era鈥� topped the U.K.-Ireland box office when it opened the weekend of April 29, though its initial showing was less strong than the first film鈥檚.听

鈥淟ives do not end at 40鈥�

鈥淒ownton Abbey鈥� has managed to stay relevant with audiences over the past 12 years听thanks to its exploration of change, says Mr. Doyle. 鈥淛ulian originally planned for the show to just be three seasons. He wanted to explore how the Great War [World War I] impacted the people who lived and worked in these great houses, and how their experiences made them want more from life. Over the seasons and films, Julian showed that all of the characters鈥� hopes and expectations changed.鈥�

What has really helped set 鈥淒ownton Abbey鈥� apart from other historical dramas is how its romantic plots aren鈥檛 just restricted to its younger characters, says Dr. Byrne. 鈥淔rom Jane Austen adaptations to 鈥楤ridgerton,鈥櫶齪eriod dramas still too often focus on romance plots of the young and beautiful. But 鈥楧ownton Abbey鈥� shows that lives do not end at 40. Interesting and often romantic plots do not have to end there either. No character is too old or too quirky to be denied love, marriage, and a new beginning in the show.鈥�

Clearly those involved in 鈥淒ownton Abbey鈥� aren鈥檛 ready to say goodbye yet. Ms. Logan says that even though nothing has been discussed regarding a third film, 鈥淚鈥檓 sure all of us would love to do it.鈥� She then teases, 鈥淭he ending of the film lives up to the title of 鈥楢 New Era鈥� and I think that gives hope that there could be something else around the corner.鈥�

鈥淒ownton Abbey: A New Era鈥� is rated PG for some suggestive references, language, and thematic elements.听It is available in theaters.听