Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski announced today that Focus has set production with Carnival Films on the Downton Abbey movie. The original principal cast from the acclaimed television series have assembled to return for the feature which will begin production later this summer. Also returning from the series is its creator Academy-Award winner Julian Fellowes who wrote the film’s screenplay and will produce alongside Gareth Neame and Liz Trubridge. Brian Percival (The Book Thief, About a Girl), who directed the series’ pilot, will direct the film. Nigel Marchant will also return to executive produce. The television series Downton Abbey followed the lives of the Crawley family and the servants who worked for them at the turn of the 20th century in an Edwardian English country home. Over its 6 seasons, the series garnered 3 Golden Globe Awards, 15 Primetime Emmy Awards, a Special BAFTA award and 69 Emmy nominations in total, making Downton Abbey the most nominated non-US