Downton Abbey' to End at Season 6! Feature Film Likely? Release Date, Cast & Plot Here!

It has already been confirmed that the hit British period drama "Downton Abbey" would officially say goodbye to its fans after the sixth season.

On Thursday, the official Twitter page of "Downton Abbey" announced, "The time has come to announce that Series 6 will be our final visit to #Downton. Thank you for sharing our journey!"

Here is the official statement from the show's executive producer Gareth Neame (courtesy of BBC News):'

"Inevitably there comes a time when all shows should end and Downton is no exception...We wanted to close the doors of Downton Abbey when it felt right and natural for the storylines to come together and when the show was still being enjoyed so much by its fans...We can promise a final season full of all the usual drama and intrigue, but with the added excitement of discovering how and where they all end up."

Julian Fellowes, the series' creator, meanwhile thanked fans for their support: "The Downton journey has been amazing for everyone aboard...People ask if we knew what was going to happen when we started to make the first series and the answer is that, of course we had no idea...Exactly why the series had such an impact and reached so many people around the world, all nationalities, all ages, all types, I cannot begin to explain...But I do know how grateful we are to have been allowed this unique experience."

"Downton" fans all over the world were indeed left broken-hearted after recent reports. However, The Telegraph reported that there might be a possibility of a "Downton" feature film to come out soon.

Neame was quoted in the report saying, "A film is definitely something that we are contemplating...It would be great fun to do. It would take a lot of planning and thinking about and we shall see. It is something Julian and I would be very interested to do."

TV Line says the show, which centers on the lives of the Crawley family and their servants, is finally coming to an end after most of its actors' and actresses' contracts expired. 

"You can keep the show going without Matthew and Sybill, but you can't continue it without the entire Crawley family," an anonymous "insider" told TV Line.

A separate report from Cinema Blend (citing Sunday Times) earlier claimed that Maggie Smith, who plays the role of Dowager Countess of Grantham in the series, would be leaving the show soon. "They say this is the last one, and I can't see how it could go on. I mean, I certainly can't keep going. To my knowledge, I must be 110 by now. We're into the late 1920s," Smith was quoted as saying.

Cinema Blend said this is not the first report about Smith's departure. Three years ago, it has been reported that Smith was having second thoughts of going back to the series. However, the actress still apparently went back.