Downton Abbey is officially coming to the big screen, with the long-awaited movie version of the long-running ITV series finally a go.

The cast will return, including Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery and Hugh Bonneville, and creator Julian Fellowes has written the film’s screenplay. Brian Percival, who director the show’s pilot episode, is at the helm.

Gareth Neame, executive chairman of Carnival and the film’s producer, said: “When the television series drew to a close it was our dream to bring the millions of global fans a movie and now, after getting many stars aligned, we are shortly to go into production.

“Julian’s script charms, thrills and entertains and in Brian Percival’s hands we aim to deliver everything that one would hope for as Downton comes to the big screen.”

Not much, or anything at all, is known about the film’s plot, but we can probably expect a lot of tea, drama and drama over tea.

“Since the series ended, fans of Downton have long been waiting for the Crawley family’s next chapter,” added Focus chairman Peter Kujawski. “We’re thrilled to join this incredible group of filmmakers, actors and craftspeople, led by Julian Fellowes and Gareth Neame, in bringing back the world of Downton to the big screen.”