The Crawleys are back and better than ever.
Michelle Dockery, who played Lady Mary in the hit dramaDownton Abbey,shared a photofrom the set of the upcoming film adaption of the series on Monday. The black-and-white picture shows a clapperboard setting up a shot, with actors — including what appears to be Jim Carter, AKA Mr. Carson — in the background.
Dockery, 36, wrote alongside the picture, “And…we’re off.”
Michelle Dockery/Instagram
The television series, whichran for six seasons, revolved around a high-society British family and its servants in the 20th century. The showannounced its moveto the big screen in July.
Sourcesconfirmed to PEOPLEin July that Dockery,Maggie Smith, Laura Carmichael, Joanne Froggatt,Hugh Bonnevilleand Elizabeth McGovern are returning for the movie.
RELATED VIDEO: The ‘Downton Abbey’ Cast Reveals How Crazy Reunions Get Since The Show Ended
Lily James, who played Lady Rose MacClare,is not returning. “I’m sadly not, but I’m so excited for it — I’m going to be front row,” theMamma Mia! Here We Go Againstar told PEOPLE this summer.
Downton Abbey.PBS
“I spoke to Laura [Carmichael] not long ago and was texting Michelle [Dockery] aboutLove Islandand it’s going to be really exciting. And the whole gang is coming back,” James added.
James chalked up her absence not to “schedules” but to the plot. “My character Rose moved off to New York, so it would be farfetched to bring her back,” she explained. “I would have loved to have come back for a scene, but for a movie it can’t be like a Christmas special and it needs to be a focused storyline.”
She added, “There was no space for Rose.”
The cast is already getting reacquainted. In August, Dockeryposted a picturein which she washanging outwith formerDowntonstarDan Stevensand the series’ Tom Branson,Allen Leech. She affectionately captioned the picture, “Dorks.”
source: people.com
