DOWNTON ABBEY's Gareth Neame Hints at Spin-Off Series: 'I Wouldn't Rule It Out'

Following today's official news that DOWNTON ABBEY will end following the upcoming sixth season, the show's executive producer Gareth Neame held a conference call with the media to address rumors of a possible spinoff series or movie for the popular historic drama.

Neame confirmed that while there were no definitive plans for either, he and creator Julian Fellowes are considering both ideas. He commented, "Our position on that is that we would be very interested in that. It is definitely something that we're contemplating. It would be great fun to do. I think it would be a wonderful extension."

He added, "We haven't made any plans for the show, but it is something that Julian [Fellowes] and I would be very interested to do, if we can get all of our ducks in a row."

Regarding rumors of a spinoff series based on the popular Crawley family, Neame joked, "Yes, I can confirm that there have been rumors." He went on to tease, "There are no definite plans to make a spinoff. But again, I wouldn't rule it out."

The exec went on to explain the decision to end the series after the 6th season, offering, "I think our theory is that it's good to quit while you're ahead. We feel the show is in incredibly strong shape. The scripts that we're working on for the upcoming season are fantastic. The show is so popular globally, but the danger with this sort of thing is to let them go on forever. The danger is that you run to seven, eight, nine, 10 years. ... But I think it's more important to us to make a perfectly formed show, in our opinion, that we bring to an end when we think the timing is right, and that people will love and remember that show for many, many years to come, and not feel that there was any sort of drop-off or we outstayed our welcome."

Source: Variety

Source: TVGuide.com

Photo: Facebook/Downton Abbey