Downton Abbey— The long-awaited trailer for Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is finally here — and while the visuals are breathtaking and the cast largely intact, not all news is good for devoted fans of the Crawley family saga.
Set in the early 1930s, the third and final film in the Downton Abbey movie trilogy will mark the end of an era. Focus Features has confirmed the film will hit U.S. theaters on September 12, 2025, reuniting the beloved cast one last time as the story transitions into a new chapter — or rather, its last.
The teaser offers nostalgic glimpses of Highclere Castle — known to fans as the Grantham Estate — and signals emotional farewells as the Crawley family reflects on their legacy. At one poignant moment, Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville) gently kisses the manor goodbye, suggesting a permanent shift in the family’s future.
Downton Abbey Trailer 2025
But amid the excitement, longtime viewers quickly noticed the absence of a major character: Matthew Goode, who played Lady Mary Crawley’s husband, Henry Talbot, will not return. The actor confirmed he had to step away due to scheduling conflicts and a recent knee operation — disappointing fans who were hoping for a full family reunion.
“Downton won’t be the same without Henry,” one fan wrote on social media. “They deserve a proper sendoff.”
Goode’s character has been missing since the second film, Downton Abbey: A New Era, and fans are now bracing for how Lady Mary’s storyline will conclude without him.
The returning cast features franchise favorites including Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Joanne Froggatt, and Brendan Coyle, among many others. New additions for the final installment include Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola, and Simon Russell Beale.
The film’s writer and original series creator, Julian Fellowes, returns to script the emotional finale, with Simon Curtis back in the director’s chair after helming the previous film.