‘Downton Abbey’ season 5: Julian Fellowes explains plans for show’s future

“Downton Abbey” season 5 is premiering on ITV later this fall and on PBS in early 2015, and there is one thing that show creator Julian Fellowes wants to ensure that everyone knows right now: There are no plans at all for the series to end at some point in the near future. Regardless of whether or not the press wants to confuse you, there is no reason to doubt the show’s future so long as the ratings are still high and the actors want to be involved.

Speaking per the Express at a recent event, Fellowes explained the reason why ITV has not formally commissioned a sixth series of the show, and how it has nothing to do with the fact that they want the show to end

“I think the producers would be happy if you put the record straight and dispelled myths that the next series will be the last … I have no plans to stop writing and while ratings are as high as they are I can’t see they wouldn’t commission another series; it’s just that they won’t confirm until the fifth series is televised.”

With this quote in mind, there is still a shelf life to this series, we feel. Fellowes has said already that he has no plans to extend the show into World War 2, and we would be surprised if it ever makes it to the 1930s. It is better to rock things out in the Roaring Twenties and show the wealthy characters of the Abbey doing what they do best. Most of the main characters are not terrible people, and therefore we don’t really have any desire to see their society and modern day of living falling apart.

The new season is filming right now in England, and we will have more news on the show’s future soon. For now, just click here if you want to read more about who from the show could be gearing up for a “Star Wars” future … or here if you want to get some more news and updates from us courtesy of our CarterMatt Newsletter.

Photo: ITV