Filming of the untitled “Downton Abbey” film is reportedly beginning soon. The film will bring back some of the familiar characters from the popular TV series along with a few new characters.

Focus Features and Carnival Films have announced that the principal photography of the highly anticipated movie is “due to begin soon,” Collider reports. The exact date of the filming and details about the filming schedule are yet to be announced.

The upcoming film has been in the news for a while now, with the fans keenly following every bit of new information. There is one big change in the recent press release. Brian Percival, who has directed the pilot episode of the TV series and movies like “The Book Thief,” was initially supposed to direct the film. According to the changes that have been made, Percival will now be the executive producer while Michael Engler will take on the role of the director.

Engler also has some history with the “Downton Abbey” TV series. He has directed four episodes in season 5 and 6, including the “Christmas Special” episode. Some of the other popular TV shows that he has directed include “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “30 Rock.”

Julian Fellowes, who created the TV series, has written the script of the upcoming film. Gareth Neame and Liz Trubridge will produce the film with Fellowes.

The cast members of the film include Maggie Smith (Dowager Countess of Grantham), Hugh Bonneville (Robert Crawley), Michelle Dockery (Mary Crawley), Elizabeth McGovern (Cora Crawley), Brendan Coyle (John Bates), Jim Carter (Charles Carson), Penelope Wilton (Isobel Crawley), Joanne Froggatt (Anna Bates), Laura Carmichael (Edith Crawley), Allen Leech (Tom Branson), Robert James-Collier (Thomas Barrow), and Sophie McShera (Daisy Mason).

There will also be some new characters in the film, but details about these characters are currently being kept under wraps. Some of the new cast members are Imelda Staunton, Kate Philips, Geraldine James, Simon Jones, David Haig, Tuppence Middleton, and Stephen Campbell Moore.

RELATED STORIES