Downton Abbey Season 7 Release Date [2023 Updates]

 

Downton Abbey is a 2010 British historical drama series. It portrayed the life of the rich aristocratic Crawley family.

 

There were 6 seasons of the TV series. The last one was released in 2015 and there have been no further updates regarding the series.

 

The reason for its success was the realistic portrayal of the events in British History.

 

It was timed well and connected to the life of the 20th-century aristocrats.

 

The series showed the impact of various events on the family and traced their journey.

 

It garnered mixed reviews because it showed a sympathetic stand on the aristocrats.

 

There were extreme responses from the political spectrum. The conservatives praised it and the progressives opposed it.

 

The positive responses were because the makers crafted the scenes well. They did not let the characters look or sound unpleasant.

 

Of course, there were some elements of class-bound. This is where it drew criticism.

 

 

 

Everything we know about Downton Abbey so far

 

It covered British history at the end of the Edwardian era and immediately after it. This was roughly between 1910 and the late 1920s.

 

The makers of the series were very thoughtful about making it realistic.

 

They included a lot of real events in history as a part of the plot like the First World War, the Titanic sinking, etc.

 

The family feud and rise of the Crawley family after the crisis was the starting point of the drama.

 

It showed even the lives of the domestic servants at the mansion. They were included in the subplots and could present the harsh realities they faced.

 

A movie called Downton Abbey came out in September 2019.

 

The movie was a box office success as well as received many positive reviews from critics, and fans alike.

 

Now, a sequel to the movie is coming and it is expected to be as successful as the first one.

 

 

 

Official Announcements and Release Date of Downton Abbey Season 7

 

There have been no official announcements regarding the release of Season 7. However, according to a report from Daily Mail, there have been talks of a seventh season being under production.

 

Season 6 concluded in 2015 and afterwards, two movies were subsequently released in 2019 and 2022.

 

We should know that season 7 of the television series may not come shortly after the release of the movie.

 

Now the series is also available on Netflix, you can enjoy all previous seasons there.

 

 

 

 

How many Seasons of Downton Abbey?

 

There are six seasons of Downton Abbey aired so far. Season 1 aired in 2010 while the last season aired back in 2015.

 

Season/Movie	Airing
Season 1	September 26, 2010
Season 2	September 11, 2011
Season 3	September 16, 2012
Season 4	September 22, 2013
Season 5	September 21, 2014
Season 6	September 20, 2015
Downton Abbey	September 13, 2019
Downton Abbey: A New Era	May 20, 2022

 

 

 

More Source Material Information for Downton Abbey Season 7

 

 

The scriptwriter for both – the series and film were the same – Julian Fellowes. Some of his previous works include Vanity Fair and Separate Lies.

 

In 2014, his niece Jessica Fellowes summed up the work of all 6 series in a book.

 

It was: A Year in the Life of Downton Abbey: Seasonal Celebrations, Traditions, and Recipes.

 

Jessica’s The World of Downton Abbey was released on 15 September 2011. It depicted the behind-the-scenes activities of the Crawley family. 

 

She also wrote another book called The Chronicles of Downton Abbey. This was released on 13 September 2012.

 

This was an auxiliary material to show how the characters would behave. It preceded season 3 of the series.

 

 

Popularity details of Downton Abbey Season 7

 

There’s no doubt that Downton Abbey as a brand name is very successful.

 

If you don’t believe me, you should know that “The Equity Titles Bill” was a controversial legal draft in 2013 at the UK Parliament. This law was called Downton Abbey law.

 

Let’s not talk about it and focus on other sources like Twitter, Google Trends and Google searches for Downton Abbey season 7.

 

Twitter Activity

The recent response on Twitter is very low compared to the demand in 2016. The reason for this is the 2019 movie release.

 

Avid fans of the TV Series have lost hope in its continuation of it. The plot of the movie too moves ahead of the era when the series stopped.

 

Google Trends

 

Google Trends gives an idea of how frequently the term Downton Abbey season 7 is being searched on Google.

 

As you can see, it is ever-changing. Sometimes it is not that popular but sometimes it is peaking and people are curious about it.

 

These days, there is also a lot of buzz surrounding the franchise’s second film. People have higher expectations for the movie due to the popularity of this television series.

 

Google Monthly Searches

Web searches for Downton Abbey Season 7 are not much. On average, it’s around 10K or below. 

 

Looking at the details above, we can be pretty sure that season 7 is not in demand, and the chances of happening are very low.

 

But in case it does happen, what we should expect?

 

 

Expected Plot of Downton Abbey Season 7

 

The expected plot of Season 7 was supposed to be World War 2 and its effects on the Crawley family.

 

The expected era of the plot was supposed to be an event that happened after 1925.

 

However, the 2019 movie Downton Abbey covered those events post-1925. It showed the Crawley family’s situation during a royal visit.

 

The household had to make elaborate arrangements to make that happen. 

 

Since the movie had covered the 1927 visit, there must be another scope for the TV Series Season 7.

 

It could be some event post-1927. It’s also depending upon the sequel of the 2019 movie.

 

At the moment, the sequel’s plot and other details are unclear. There are no official announcements, either.

 

Downton Abbey Season 7, if at all it comes will focus on a more historically prominent event.

 

This is why the World War 2 events in the plot are the most speculated ones.

 

It may show the lives of the aristocratic society of the first half of the 1900s.

 

Back in those times, aristocrats were regarded highly in society. They enjoyed a status that was at par with the nobility.

 

Though they did not directly rule, they could influence things a lot. The Crawley family was one such.

 

The Earl and Countess of Grantham wielded maximum influence over the household.

 

So, there would be a clash of power and confusion within the household.

 

Some interesting aspects shown are the clash between the members and the staff.

 

The domestic servants have their clashes and trivial issues. All of this could be used to enhance the main plots through subplots.

 

 

Why Downton Abbey Season 7?

 

The events after the Crawley family’s 2nd downfall, the audience was thrilled to know their fate.

 

Would they rise like Phoenix? Or will they bite the dust like most of the contemporary aristocrats?

 

Though the movie shows events after 1925 (when the series stopped), it did not have much to show.

 

It was mainly focused on King George’s and Queen Mary’s visits to the Crawleys. The movie tracked how the family handled the royal visit.

 

The movie ended on a good note with the King appreciating one of the Crawleys. But, there is still scope for the makers to create a Season 7 for the TV series.

 

That’s because the series was more focused on the events within the family.

 

The historical depictions were the icing on the cake. Though there was an incident of historical importance in the movie, it was minor.

 

The next best attraction of the movie was the good locations they used.

 

Byfleet Manor, Bampton Library, Churchgate House, and Highclere Castle enthralled the audience.

 

The series covered much greater ones like – the Irish War of Independence, the Spanish pandemic, the 1923 general elections in Britain, and so on.

 

These were major turning points in the history of Britain.

 

In that context, the next best topic for them to utilize as a plot setting would be World War 2.

 

They could also base a plot on the Great Depression of the 1930s. This could be towards the end of season 7.

 

 

Online Reactions for Downton Abbey Season 7

 

Online reactions can give an insight into how popular a series and its brand impact are. The more it’s talked about, the better it gets.

 

This also helps the makers to understand the audience’s demands and their tastes.

 

If future releases of it are tailored to meet that expectation, there’s no doubt the series will do good.

 

Quora Reaction

 

This Quora user gives an interesting perspective. For those who were engrossed in watching the TV series, the movie would do less justice.

 

The pace of TV series with 7 – 8 episodes compared to a few hours-long movies is very different.

 

Once a trend is set and the viewers get accustomed, changing it can lower the response.

 

Reddit Reaction

 

Reddit, the front page of the internet has another take on this. This is a conversation that was sparked after talks of the movie sequel.

 

This fan is happy that he gets to see at least something instead of nothing. So the expectations from viewers are also less.

 

 

Downton Abbey Ratings and Reviews

 

Let’s see what does rating tells about next season. Is it enough popular?

 

 

IMDb gives a clearer picture of the reactions online. The rating average is from 8.7 (mean) to 8.9 (median).

 

This is a very good rating for a series that ran for 6 seasons. Most seasons don’t do well beyond the 1st or 2nd sequels.

 

The biggest factor for its success was the historical and turning points. These were etched into the common conscience of the British audience.

 

Let’s discuss the records that Downton Abbey set. Here’s a brief chat about it.

 

 

 

Here are some of the ratings and reviews they received from some entertainment websites.

 

 

Sales and Profit Information for Downton Abbey Season 7

 

Here’s a basic analysis of the sales and profit details of the TV series. Overall, it performed well at the box office too.

 

Streaming

Downton Abbey series is available on Amazon Prime. On average, around 50,000 copies of each series were downloaded or viewed from Prime.

 

The ratings stood at around 4.8/5 which is very good for the series.

 

The global estimate for the viewership is 120 million views. Around 220 countries have purchased the rights for this series, too.

 

The series also streamed once on Netflix a while back. Then it was taken out in 2013 and until now it was not available on Netflix.

 

Now the series is streaming back this June. So, Netflix users are happy because their favourite series is returning.

 

DVD and Bluray Disc

Here’s a brief chart showing the DVD sales of Downton Abbey DVD and Blu-ray sales.

 

 

Cumulative Box Office lists show a great statistic for the series. Here’s a comparison of it.

 

 

Production cost and success of Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey, being a glamorous TV series was very expensive to shoot.

 

The whole plot revolved around the rich and elite people who were less.

 

The shoots were all in good and costly locations, the actors were highly sought-after ones too.

 

The brilliant artwork of recreating a castle of the 1900s and British life was expensive. However, it was not as much as it got hyped.

 

Jessica Fellowes’ book reveals that it cost around 1 million Euro for 1 episode.

 

This was around 1.2 million USD back then. Some other contemporary shows cost around $ 3 – 5 million.

 

This was roughly double the figure.

 

Optimal cost and good utilization of the money were what made Downton Abbey a commercial success.

 

If we believed estimates they made close to 9 or 10 times the money invested in it.

 

 

Popular Downton Abbey Characters

 

Downton Abbey is a fairly long series. It has around 7 – 9 episodes over 6 Seasons.

 

Some characters appeared in all while some did in just one or two.

 

Here are the main characters that we can see in Season 7 of Downton Abbey.

 

Robert Crawley

 

He’s the Earl of Grantham. Being the head of the family and a father, he does a lot.

 

He faces tough challenges to secure his family’s future. He comes across as a noble and powerful figure who commands respect.

 

Hugh Bonneville played this role.

 

Lady Cora Crawley

 

The Countess of Grantham. She’s married to Robert Crowley. She’s an American who lives as the English elite.

 

She comes across as someone who’s liberal considering the other aristocrats.

 

She’s the mother of Mary, Edith, and Sybil Crawley. She’s also a grandmother to Sybbie, George, and Marigold. Elizabeth McGovern played this role.

 

Edith Pelham

 

She’s the Marchioness of Hexham Lady Edith Crawley. This role was played by Laura Carmichael.

 

She’s their younger sister of Mary. After inheriting a publishing company, she struggles to manage her duties as a mother too.

 

Lady Mary Crawley

 

This role is played by Michelle Dockery. She’s the eldest daughter but, fails to inherit anything.

 

She lost her husband the day her son George was born. She had a good love life but, that invited scandals that brought her down

 

Isobel Crawley

 

She’s the mother-in-law of Mary and Mathew’s mother. She tries her best to balance the house and support the other family members.

 

Though she is shown as a strict mother-in-law, she is caring. This role was played by Penelope Wilton.

 

Here’s a table showing the other actors who appeared in all the Seasons. Some of them appeared, even in the movie.

 

 

 

Other Decisive Factors for Downton Abbey Season 7

 

This part of the article will describe the solid reasons to have a Season 7 of Downton Abbey. There are usually many reasons to not have a sequel.

 

Either it may be a lack of revenue from the first one. Or it may be a lack of source material. Sometimes it can also be the end.

 

Since the Downton Abbey series does not have the above-mentioned aspects, here are some points.

 

Downton Abbey Ending

The ending of the 6th Season was a cliffhanger. The audience was eager to know what would happen to the Crawley Family. 

 

The crisis was not new for them. But, the one they were undergoing at the end was very harsh.

 

It had the chance of breaking apart the whole family. Grave existential crises add more fuel to a story’s demand. 

 

The movie released in 2019 showed the Crawleys in a well-to-do situation. But, the long-term viewers and fans of the TV series are in dilemma.

 

Will Lord Merton battle the terminal illness? What will Carson do after retiring? Will Barrow return as a Butler after Lord Grantham tells him to?

 

There are too many unanswered questions

 

Trailer

Since there are no official announcements for season 7 of Downton Abbey, there’s no trailer for it.

 

However, Hugh Bonville mentioned the movie sequel. Therefore its trailer may appear in the coming few months.

 

The delay in this is due to the Pandemic which spoiled many schedules.

 

The makers may consider the Season 7 prospects only after this movie sequel.

 

Controversy

Downton Abbey has caused many controversies and given many others the chance to get into controversies. Here are some of them:

 

After the 3rd episode of the 4th season was aired, many people complained.

 

This was because it showed graphic violence which was a rape scene. UK’s TV regulator received 200 complaints and ITV the broadcaster received 60. 

 

But, Ofcom (TV Regulator) did not take any action. This is because that episode that was broadcast had a disclaimer. 

 

The décor of Downton Abbey attracted many aesthetic minds. An American Representative was so enamoured by it that he got into a controversy for this.

 

Aaron Schock revamped his congressional office to resemble that of the one in Downton Abbey. This led to his resignation for the misuse of public funds.

 

The other controversy was American PBS altering the start and endpoints of the episodes.

 

This was done in order to work with US runtime schedules. It was also criticized that they added a host to introduce each episode.

 

 

Top Similar TV Shows Like Downton Abbey 

 

1. The Crown (2016-2023)

“The Crown” is a critically acclaimed series that has captivated audiences with its compelling storytelling and stellar performances. With an IMDb rating of 8.6/10, the show spans from 2016 to 2023, taking viewers on a captivating journey through the history of the British monarchy.

 

Seamlessly blending biography, drama, and history, “The Crown” offers a rich and immersive experience. The series boasts a talented ensemble cast, including Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, Imelda Staunton, and Matt Smith, who bring the iconic characters of the British royal family to life with depth and authenticity.

 

2. Bridgerton (2020- )

“Bridgerton” is a captivating series that has taken audiences by storm since its premiere in 2020. With an IMDb rating of 7.4/10, the show artfully combines elements of drama, history, and romance.

 

Set in the Regency era of England, “Bridgerton” follows the lives of the wealthy Bridgerton family and their intricate social circle, filled with secrets, scandals, and romance. Featuring a talented ensemble cast, including Nicola Coughlan, Luke Thompson, Jonathan Bailey, and Bessie Carter, “Bridgerton” brings the vibrant characters and opulent world of high society to life.

 

3. Big Little Lies (2017-2019)

“Big Little Lies” is a gripping series that has garnered critical acclaim for its compelling storytelling and powerful performances. With an IMDb rating of 8.5/10, the show spans from 2017 to 2019, exploring the lives of a group of seemingly perfect mothers in Monterey, California, whose lives unravel amidst dark secrets and complex relationships.

 

The series boasts a stellar ensemble cast, including Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, and Adam Scott, who deliver outstanding performances that bring depth and nuance to their characters. As the layers of deception and intrigue unfold, “Big Little Lies” delves into themes of motherhood, friendship, and the consequences of keeping secrets.

 

4. Mad Men (2007-2015)

“Mad Men” is an iconic series that has left an indelible mark on television history. With an IMDb rating of 8.7/10, the show originally aired from 2007 to 2015, immersing viewers in the glamorous and cutthroat world of advertising in 1960s New York.

 

Through its gripping narrative and rich character development, “Mad Men” explores the personal and professional lives of the enigmatic Don Draper and his colleagues at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. The series features a talented cast, including Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser, and January Jones, who deliver exceptional performances that showcase the complexities and contradictions of their characters.

 

5. Pride and Prejudice (-1995)

“Pride and Prejudice” is a timeless classic that has captivated audiences for generations. With an IMDb rating of 8.8/10, this beloved adaptation brings Jane Austen’s iconic characters and romantic tale to life.

 

Set in the Regency era of England, the series follows the tumultuous relationship between the spirited Elizabeth Bennet and the proud Mr. Darcy, as they navigate societal expectations, misunderstandings, and the power of love.

 

The series features a remarkable cast, including Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle, Susannah Harker, and Julia Sawalha, who embody their characters with elegance and charm. With its lush period setting, sparkling dialogue, and unforgettable performances, “Pride and Prejudice” remains a definitive adaptation of Austen’s cherished novel, capturing the timeless themes of love, class, and personal growth.

 

6. House of Cards (2013-2018)

“House of Cards” is a groundbreaking political drama that has redefined the television landscape. With an IMDb rating of 8.7/10, the series aired from 2013 to 2018, captivating audiences with its intricate plotlines, Machiavellian characters, and gripping storytelling.

 

Set in Washington, D. C., the show follows the ruthless and manipulative politician Frank Underwood as he navigates the treacherous world of politics and power. The series features a powerhouse cast, including Kevin Spacey, Michel Gill, Robin Wright, and Kate Mara, who deliver stellar performances that showcase the dark underbelly of politics.

 

7. Victoria (2016-2019)

“Victoria” is a captivating historical drama that brings the remarkable life of Queen Victoria to the small screen. With an IMDb rating of 8.2/10, the series spans from 2016 to 2019, offering a fascinating glimpse into the early years of Queen Victoria’s reign.

 

From her ascension to the throne at a young age to her personal and political challenges, the show explores the complexities of one of Britain’s most iconic monarchs. The series features a talented ensemble cast, including Jenna Coleman, Adrian Schiller, Tommy Knight, and Jordan Waller, who breathe life into the richly drawn characters of the era.

 

8. Outlander (2014- )

“Outlander” is an epic and romantic series that has captured the hearts of viewers around the world. With an IMDb rating of 8.4/10, the show has been captivating audiences since its premiere in 2014.

 

Based on Diana Gabaldon’s best-selling novels, “Outlander” follows the journey of Claire Randall, a nurse from the 1940s who finds herself transported back in time to 18th-century Scotland, where she becomes embroiled in a passionate and dangerous love affair.

 

Featuring a talented cast, including Caitríona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Sophie Skelton, and Richard Rankin, “Outlander” explores themes of love, honour, and destiny against the backdrop of historical events and breathtaking Scottish landscapes.

 

9. Poldark (2015-2019)

“Poldark” is a sweeping period drama that has enthralled audiences with its captivating storylines and breathtaking scenery. With an IMDb rating of 8.3/10, the show aired from 2015 to 2019, taking viewers on a journey to 18th-century Cornwall, England.

 

 

Conclusion

 

We actually don’t know if season 7 is gonna be out or not. There are some talks and rumours of the season being under production, but let’s see what happens. 

 

They focused on movies based on the same story and we should appreciate their efforts.

 

We hope you enjoyed reading it.

 

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