The Gilded Age creator Julian Fellowes has shared a hopeful update about the chance of a crossover with Downton Abbey. The Gilded Age ended its third season on HBO with record-breaking ratings, as viewership grew each week. HBO has already renewed the show for a fourth season, while the final Downton film, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, hits theaters on September 12.
Speaking to TV Line before The Gilded Age season 3 finale, Fellowes talked about the increased possibility of a Downton crossover. Season 3 of The Gilded Age also expanded to England after Gladys Russell (Taissa Farmiga) married Hector, Duke of Buckingham (Ben Lamb).
Fellowes assures fans that The Gilded Age can “bring about a conjunction [with Downton] whenever we wish,” but he says, “we haven’t got one planned yet.” Read Fellowes’ quote below:
Well, obviously there’s an opportunity to [stage a crossover], because they are both in England. Things like the shooting season or whatever would incorporate many great houses for all of these families, as they would travel around England. We can bring about a conjunction whenever we wish, really, but we haven’t got one planned yet, so we’ll have to see.
The events of The Gilded Age season 3 make a long-awaited crossover with Downton Abbey more likely. Gladys becoming the Duchess of Buckingham let the show shift part of its story to England, where the Buckinghams have already hosted dinners at Sidmouth Castle.
In the mid-1880s setting of The Gilded Age, Lady Violet Crawley (Maggie Smith in Downton Abbey) is the Countess of Grantham, and Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville) is in his early 20s. This is also when a young Cora Levinson (Elizabeth McGovern) travels to England and marries Robert, using her fortune to save Downton.
Younger versions of the Crawleys could easily visit Sidmouth Castle for “shooting season,” as Julian Fellowes hinted. While he says there is currently “no plan” for a crossover, writing for season 4 hasn’t started yet, so it’s still possible.
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is set to close the story that began with the 2010 TV series, ending that era for the Crawley family and their staff. Still, interest in Downton remains strong, leading to three feature films after the show ended in 2015. Fellowes had hinted at a crossover before The Gilded Age season 3, but now it makes more sense than ever.
A season 4 crossover would keep Downton Abbey relevant for HBO viewers and could serve as a long-awaited prequel idea Fellowes has teased. While The Gilded Age was originally kept separate to stand on its own, the time may soon be right to confirm both shows share the same universe. Fans are hoping season 4 will see the Buckinghams meet the Crawleys in the 1880s.
Source: TV Line