Downton Abbey star wants it to be a "Star Trek franchise"

Downton Abbeyactor Hugh Bonneville has joked that the period drama could one day follow in the footsteps of Star Trek.

But before you go imagining the Dowager Countess of Grantham learning Klingon and battling weird extra-terrestrials, that isn't quite what Hugh had in mind.

In a Digital Spy exclusive from the DVD/Blu-ray extras for the Downton Abbey movie, the Robert Crawley star discusses what the future might hold for the franchise.

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"I can see a Star Trek franchise, I think this is the beginning," he muses. "This is just a gentle opener to what's going to be a huge franchise of five or six movies."

His castmates, including Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary) and Allen Leech (Tom Branson), become visibly amused by Hugh's remark, with the former replying: "Oh my gosh!"

Could Downton boldly go where no-one has gone before?

Although it definitely won't be chasing a sci-fi aesthetic, producer Gareth Neame revealed back in November that conversations are under way about a second Downton Abbey movie.

"We're working on what the story is, and when we might be able to make it," he explained. "But it's the same as the first time around – we have to try to get everyone back together again. And that was very challenging."

Downton Abbey The Movie is available to pre-order on digital, DVD and Blu-ray now.

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Source: www.digitalspy.com