‘Downton Abbey’ Movie Switches Directors As Filming Starts

The “Downton Abbey” movie has officially started filming, but there is a new director helming the period piece. Michael Engler will be the man in charge now.

A press release announcing the beginning of filming revealed that Brian Percival is no longer directing. No reason was given. Percival is still listed as an executive producer for the “Downton” film, though.

Percival seemed a natural choice for the “Downton Abbey” movie since he directed the pilot of the PBS TV show (which aired from 2011 to 2016 in the U.S.) as well as an additional five episodes. However, fans will be happy to know that Engler also has experience with the British import. He directed four episodes, including the series finale.

Engler has previously worked on “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “Sex and the City,” and “Empire,” to name a few. He is also directing the pilot for “The Gilded Age,” which is “Downton Abbey” creator Julian Fellowes’ new show, set to launch in 2019.

Downton Abbey movie director — The "Downton Abbey" movie, which is set to star Michelle Dockery and Hugh Bonneville, has a new director. Nick Briggs/Carnival Films 2014 for Masterpiece

The directorial swap was not given much attention in the press release. Instead, Focus Features and Carnival Films hyped up the additions to the cast, which already includes most of the main actors from the original TV series.

Maggie Smith might have a reunion with former “Harry Potter” co-star Imelda Staunton, who just joined the “Downton” cast. Netflix stars Tuppence Middleton (“Sense8”), Kate Phillips (Peaky Blinders) and Geraldine James (“Anne with an E”) were also added. David Haig (“Killing Eve”) and Stephen Campbell Moore (“The History Boys”) round out the new additions.

Their characters haven’t been announced yet nor has the plot. It isn’t clear how far into the future the film will go. When “Downton Abbey” left off, the characters all seemed ready for happily ever after. However, it was 1925 in the series finale. The Great Depression will kick off in 1929. Will we catch up with the Crawleys before the London Stock Market crashes or will we see them in the aftermath?

Fans will have to wait to find out. The “Downton Abbey” movie still doesn’t have a release date yet, but expect more details to come out through the fall while the movie is filming.