A historic meeting of The Gilded Age and Downton Abbey is possible, Julian Fellowes gave big hints
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Wedding bells open new doors
The latest episode of The Gilded Age has hinted at something fans have been dreaming about.
Following Gladys Russell’s wedding to the Duke of Buckingham, the newlyweds have jetted off to England, potentially making for the perfect opportunity for a crossover with Downton Abbey.
From New York to an English estate
Gladys (played by Taissa Farmiga) is now headed to Sidmouth Castle, where she’ll learn the ins and outs of being a Duchess and deal with her new sister-in-law, Lady Sarah Vere.
Sound familiar? The lavish dinners and upstairs-downstairs dynamics seen in the upcoming episodes are classic Downton style.
Timeline connections
Julian Fellowes, the brainy mastermind behind both shows, has confirmed that the younger versions of the Crawley family absolutely exist in the 1883 timeline of The Gilded Age.
“If we go back to Downton Abbey in 1880, we’ll find Violet running at a young age,” Fellowes told PEOPLE.
However, he added that we’ll get “Violet’s husband as a young man,” not the characters we’ve come to love.
The Dowager’s Early Days
According to Fellowes, Violet Crawley (who was memorably played by the late Maggie Smith) was born in the 1840s, making her a woman in her thirties during The Gilded Age timeline, decades before she became the sharp-witted Dowager we see in Downton Abbey.
The American Connection Too
Even more interesting? Elizabeth McGovern’s Cora Crawley was just a teenager in Ohio during this period.
She could easily appear in New York City before her marriage to Robert Crawley, which moved her across the Atlantic.
“Maybe,” Says Fellowes
Though Fellowes previously dismissed crossover rumors, she has recently softened her stance.
When asked directly by Deadline, she said: “Maybe. We’re not finished yet, so let’s see.”
The cast is also in favor
Harry Richardson, who plays Larry Russell (Gladys’ brother), is excited about the prospect: “It would be incredible,” he told PEOPLE.
“I hope they bring Larry to England as well… I want to come visit my sister.”
How could it happen
Though a full crossover might be tricky, imagine seeing a young Violet at a dance gala hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Buckingham, or catching a glimpse of a teenage Cora at the opera in New York.
These subtle hints could thrill fans of both series without upsetting either show’s carefully constructed world.
The door is now open—we’ll just have to wait to see if anyone walks through it.
