Julian Fellowes has been saying goodbye to “Downton Abbey” for nearly as long as it has existed.

Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc is back.

Actors, collaborators and fans who worked with Dame Maggie Smith are paying tribute to the award-winning actor, known for her roles in the “Harry Potter” movies and “Downton Abbey.”.

This week’s new entertainment releases include Taylor Swift's “1989 (Taylor’s Version),” a glossy look at opioid addiction with the movie “Pain Hustlers” starring Emily Blunt, Chris Evans and Andy Garcia, and the streaming horror flick “Five Nights at Freddy’s.”.

This week’s new entertainment releases include a new album from the legendary group The Temptations, the latest addition to the animated “Ice Age” franchise and a new series on HBO by “Downton Abbey” creator Julian Fellowes called “The Gilded Age” and starring Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Cynthia Nixon and Christine Baranski.

The original principal cast of “Downton Abbey” are returning for a second film that will arrive in theaters December 22 this year.

"I didn't think that there would be a film," Fellowes tells CNN. The moment the series finished editing its final episode, Naeme adds, he began developing a film follow-up. But the road to the box office bonanza wasn't cut and dried -- Fellowes, Naeme and production team had to approach the project with the same painstaking care they'd lavished on the series. "One of the things that I've always loved about 'Downton' was it takes that stuff very seriously," says the filmmaker. Even before the box office numbers came in, Naeme was already envisioning an ongoing film franchise.

The return of Downton Abbey, creator Julian Fellowes beloved period drama turned film now in theaters, also means the return of Maggie Smith, who reprises her role as the fan-favorite, Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham. Fellowes, Imelda Staunton and others open up to ET about working with Smith on the movie and paying service to her character in whats currently the final chapter of the franchise. The door open for her to have a remarkable recovery or a spectacular funeral.When he wrote the scene, Fellowes didnt think of it as just a goodbye to Violet. RELATED CONTENT:Lady Edith Returns Home for a Royal Visit in First Clip From 'Downton Abbey' Movie (Exclusive)'Downton Abbey' Movie: Inside the Unexpected Romances for Tom Branson and Thomas Barrow (Exclusive)'Downton Abbey' Sequel? Creator Julian Fellowes and the Cast on Doing Another Film (Exclusive)'Downton Abbey': Behind the Scenes of the Movie With Michelle Dockery and More (Exclusive)

Downton Abbey, Julian Fellowes beloved British period drama, made a welcome return this past weekend, with an all-new chapter released in theaters. In typical Downton Abbey fashion, theres a mix of drama, romance and intrigue that spills over both upstairs and downstairs. Notably, the film introduces two delightfully, unexpected romances for longtime characters, Tom Branson (Allen Leech) and Thomas Barrow (Robert James-Collier). The revelation doesnt come until late in the movie and is unbeknownst to Tom, who finds himself drawn to Lucy. It was a life under threat, a life where you were permanently in danger and a life of high risk.

Downton Abbey, Julian Fellowes beloved British upstairs-downstairs drama, is back with an all-new film thats reigniting the cultural phenomenon. They are joined by a few new faces to the franchise, most notably Imelda Staunton and Tuppence Middleton. Well before arriving in theaters, however, the question quickly popped up: Is there going to be a sequel? If people come out in big numbers and come see us in theaters then theres no reason we couldnt do another.Gareth Neame, Julian Fellowes and Michelle Dockery. While success at the box office is yet to be determined, the cast all sounds game to do it.

Nick Briggs/Carnival Film and TV/Masterpiece/PBS(CNN) - "Downton Abbey" reopens its grand doors, in a movie where half the battle -- and much of the thrill -- hinges on merely reassembling the enormous cast. After six seasons that yielded the kind of ratings PBS seldom sees, "Downton" closed its run in 2016, with happy endings all around. It's easy to argue that this trip back was unnecessary, a description that applies to many a revival and reboot. Ultimately, though, it's another satisfying chapter, demonstrating that enough still glitters around "Downton Abbey" to make it worth seeing for anyone who loved the show, eventually, if not sooner. "Downton Abbey" premieres Sept. 20 in the US.

Six seasons of Downton Abbey was hardly enough for fans, and that's why everyone's favorite upstairs-downstairs drama is returning as a motion picture of the same name. Should you still need your Downton fix after that, there's a companion book coming, too. Downton Abbey: The Official Film Companion provides a look at the making of the film, with behind-the-scenes photos, cast and crew interviews and a forward by series creator Julian Fellowes. Check out the photos below:Downton Abbey: The Official Film Companion will be released on Sept. 17 -- preorder it here -- mere days ahead of the film's release on Sept. 20. RELATED CONTENT:'Downton Abbey' Movie Trailer: The Crawleys Prepare for a Royal Visit'Downton Abbey' Star Dan Stevens Hints He Might Be Back for the MovieLook Back on Kate Middleton's Visit to the Set of 'Downton Abbey'