"Downton Abbey 2" to Hit Theaters in December

Focus Features confirmed Monday on Twitter that production on "Downton Abbey 2", the sequel to the 2019 movie "Downton Abbey", is now underway.

Production began last week with English actor Dominic West joining the cast.

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It is set for the creator of the show and Julian Fellowes and all the original cast including Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter, Laura Carmichael, and Michelle Dockery, will reprise their roles.

The cast will also feature some newcomers such as Laura Haddock, Hugh Dancy, and Nathalie Baye.

Carnival's Gareth Neame's and Liz Trubridge return to produce alongside Fellowes, with Simon Curtis (My Week with Marilyn) joining to direct.

The 2019 movie witnessed the first return of the Crawley family since the hugely successful "Downton Abbey" series ended in 2016, which followed a royal visit to Downton and an assassination attempt on the King of England.

It allocated more than $194 million from a budget estimated at $13-20 million.

"Downton Abbey 2" is produced by Carnival Films and distributed Internationally by Focus Features and Universal Pictures. Carnival Films is part of NBCUniversal International Studios, a pision of Universal Studio Group.

"Downton Abbey 2" will hit the theaters on December 22, 2021.