PEOPLE – When the Downton Abbey cast returns for the upcoming big screen movie adaption, it will be without one of the series’ beloved stars: Lily James.
The actress, who starred as Lady Rose MacClare on the PBS drama, confirmed to PEOPLE that she will not appear in the Downton Abbey movie, which has officially been greenlit.
“I’m sadly not, but I’m so excited for it — I’m going to be front row,” James, 29, tells PEOPLE of not being part of the film.
“I spoke to Laura [Carmichael] not long ago and was texting Michelle [Dockery] about Love Island and it’s going to be really exciting. And the whole gang is coming back,” shares James, who stars in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, in theaters Friday.
As for why James’ character will not be featured in the film, the British star confirms that “it wasn’t schedules.”
She explains: “My character Rose moved off to New York, so it would be farfetched to bring her back.”
“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,” James adds, noting, “There was no space for Rose.”
James might surprise Downton Abbey fans in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, which finds the actress portraying a young Donna (Meryl Streep’s character) and singing along with her group The Dynamos.
On July 1, Lily and Matt Smith attended the Audi Polo Challenge in Ascot, England. The gallery has been updated with high quality pictures so make sure to check them out!
Public Appearances > 2018 > Audi Polo Challenge
PLAYBILL – Golden Globe-winning actor Gillian Anderson (The Fall, The X-Files) has signed on to star as Margo Channing in the Ivo van Hove-helmed stage adaptation of All About Eve in London, according to journalist Baz Bamigboye of the Daily Mail.
Last seen on the London stage as Blanche DuBois in the Young Vic revival of A Streetcar Named Desire, she replaces the previously tapped Cate Blanchett, who withdrew from the production earlier this year due to a scheduling conflict.
Joining Anderson as Eve Harrington will be Cinderella star Lily James, soon to be seen as a young Meryl Streep in the upcoming film sequel Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.
Performances will reportedly begin in February 2019 at the Noel Coward Theatre in London. Sonia Friedman Productions and Fox Stage Productions are attached.
The Oscar-winning 1950 film All About Eve was written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, based on the short story The Wisdom of Eve by Mary Orr. The movie starred Bette Davis as Channing, the prominent yet aging Broadway star, and Anne Baxter as Eve Harrington, a willingly helpful young fan who insinuates herself into Channing’s life.
The film was nominated for 14 Academy Awards and won six, including Best Picture.
Lily is featured in Sky Mobile’s new campaign “Hello Possible”. You can watch the tv spot below!
Lily was spotted at the Tribeca Film Festival this weekend to attend the premiere of ‘Little Woods’ alongside co-stars Tessa Thompson, James Badge Dale and director Nia DaCosta. High quality pictures from the red carpet and portraits have been added to the gallery!
Public Appearances > 2018 > Tribeca Film Festival – ‘Little Woods’ Premiere
Studio Photoshoots > Portraits & Press Conferences > 2018: Tribeca Film Festival – ‘Little Woods’ Portraits
Studio Photoshoots > Portraits & Press Conferences > 2018: Tribeca Film Festival – ‘Little Woods’ Portraits #2
Support Red Nose Day USA and Best Friends Animal Society and go to the London premiere of ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’ to meet the cast.
OMAZE – You’re going to dance, jive and have the time of your life at the premiere of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. Pack your favorite pair of overalls, because you and a friend are off to London to hang with the cast and see the highly anticipated sequel before anyone else. First, your very own hair and makeup squad will get you red carpet ready. Then, you’ll share a celebratory toast with Amanda Seyfried, Lily James, Dominic Cooper and more of the cast. (We can’t promise Meryl will be there, but our fingers AND toes are crossed for you.) After that, you’ll catch the premiere with writer Richard Curtis, hopefully dance in the aisles, and meet up with Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth. One more thing: You also score tickets to Mamma Mia! the musical. The winner—you—takes it all! Flights and hotel included.
Lily is the face of Austrian mineral water company Vöslauer since 2017 and for this new year, they revealed another tv spot. Make sure to check the gallery for production stills and watch the video below. She looks amazing!
Other Projects > Ad Campaigns > Vöslauer (2017-2018) > Forever Young (Production Stills)
THE HOLLYWHOOD REPORTER – Lily James, who appeared in Baby Driver and Darkest Hour, is in negotiations to star in Danny Boyle’s untitled comedy for Universal and Working Title.
The actress is the first castmember to board the project, whose details are being kept under lock and key, but it is known to be musically themed and set in the 1960s or ’70s. It is understood that the role, a teacher, calls for her to sing.
Richard Curtis wrote the script, and Universal is eyeing a summer shoot.
Working Title’s Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner will produce alongside Matt Wilkinson and Bernie Bellew. Curtis and Boyle will also produce.
James has been on a roll since nabbing the lead in Disney’s live-action remake of Cinderella in 2015. Last year saw her star opposite Ansel Elgort in Edgar Wright’s acclaimed thriller Baby Driver, and she appeared opposite Oscar winner Gary Oldman in the Winston Churchill biopic Darkest Hour.
James, who is repped by UTA, has already impressed Working Title and Universal execs by acting as a younger Meryl Streep in Mama Mia! Here We Go Again, the musical sequel that opens July 20.
