Downton Abbey movie gets the green light

Downton Abbey is getting a movie. Photo / Supplied

The 'Downton Abbey' movie will go into production this summer.

Fans have been wishing for the popular drama to be made into a big screen blockbuster since the series ended in 2015 following a successful five-year run, and now it looks like things are finally falling into place as it has been confirmed that the original cast will come together to shoot the film adaptation in a few weeks' time.

Producer Gareth Neame said: "When the television series drew to a close it was our dream to bring the millions of global fans a movie and now, after getting many stars aligned, we are shortly to go into production. Julian's [Fellowes] script charms, thrills and entertains, and in Brian Percival's hands we aim to deliver everything that one would hope for as 'Downton' comes to the big screen."

It's thought the film will hit cinemas across the globe next year but details on the plot are being kept under wraps.

Joanne Froggatt - who played Anna Smith in the period drama - was one of the first of the original cast to comment on the news as she tweeted: "Delighted to announce we're getting the band back together! #DowntonMovie #DowntonAbbey (sic)"

Rumours about a movie have been rife for some time but the show's creator Julian created a storm of excitement last year when he said he had written a script for the blockbuster but was awaiting the go ahead from the studio.

He said at the time: "I've done some work on the script because I don't want to find there's a green light and no script ready.

"But we're still waiting for that green light from the studio. Then the biggest difficulty will be rounding up all the cast as, compared with most series, it has such a large cast. And it needs them to feel Downtonesque."

However, fans were left in doubt a few months later when Laura Carmichael, who played Lady Edith Crawley, revealed in April that she hadn't heard from any of the bosses and was still waiting to see the script.