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Downton’s future unclear with Julian Fellowes to begin new project

With the UK writer set to begin work on US drama, media are asking if it means one last season for Downton Abbey?

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2014-09-01_1232British writer Julian Fellowes has been earmarked to pen The Gilded Age for NBC for some years, but has been free to remain focussed on his hit series, Downton Abbey.

Fellowes has previously said, “[The Gilded Age] will happen when Downton finishes, because I just couldn’t do both at once.”

But that may be about to change with NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt now telling media Fellowes is “at a point” where he’s able to start developing and writing the new show.

“Hopefully this show will be coming to life sometime in the next season.”

UK media including RadioTimes are asking if this means the end for Downton?

A year ago Fellowes said, “I don’t know yet if there is a season six, but it’s not going to go on forever. It won’t be Perry Mason.

“I haven’t written (Gilded Age) yet, but it’s about the old aristocracy, the Winthrops and the Stuyvesants and the new money of oil and gas and shipping in the 1870s. It will all be fiction – it won’t be real people – but when those families descended on New York, they took over.”

Downton has since been confirmed by ITV for a sixth series in late 2015.

Season Five is set to air in Australia on Seven next month.

4 Responses

  1. Downton Abbey is such a great piece of drama. I’m glad there will be a season 6 and if its the last then it will be ok but i love the show. I think its got so much more to give. Others may disagree. The Gilded Edge being on NBC might not even work. Just because he does one great drama doesn’t mean it will resonate into another. It happens all the time in TV.

  3. Then NBC’s The Gilded Age was first mentioned in 2012 there was speculation that Fellowes would either hand off DA or do both shows. He ruled that out in an interview in 2013 stating that he wouldn’t start on TGA until DA finished, which is a good thing because doing both Titanic and DA wasn’t a success.

    The Daily Mail has reported confirmation that Fellowes is moving to NY to start work on TGA.

    DA’s S5 ratings were down and there has been talk S6 might be the final season, but ITV have not made an official response.

  4. Chances are The Gilded Edge will be axed before the next series of Downton ends.

    I do think even if Downton ends as a series this year it would continue with the Christmas specials certainly next year and possibly beyond.

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