Dominic West could join the cast of Downton Abbey sequel as a wealthy aristocrat

He's well known for starring in TV series such as The Wire and The Affair, but sources have revealed that Dominic West is set to join the cast of the new Downton Abbey movie.

Dominic, 51, will apparently join actors such as Maggie Smith and Hugh Bonneville to play a wealthy aristocrat who stays at the Abbey after being invited by Lord Grantham.

It was revealed this month that the much-anticipated sequel to the Downton Abbey film could be filmed this summer and hopefully released in time for Christmas. 

Last year Dominic West hit the headlines when pictures of him and fellow Downton star Lily James were flirting and getting close in Italy. However, both stars denied the allegations. While Lily won't be appearing in the film's sequel.

If The Affair actor does confirm his role in the sequel he'll also join another new cast member - Nathalie Baye, a French actress who is said to be playing an old friend of Dowager Countess of Grantham, Violet Crawley. 

This month a source also told the Mirror that the crew was hoping that filming on the sequel would start in the summer: “Everyone is hoping the June 21 date for the end of the pandemic holds. The crew dates are being fixed and the team are going into prep for a summer shoot."

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While one of the film's main actors Hugh Bonneville revealed the one obstacle which could impact filming as he spoke to Radio One's Zoe Ball last month.

He said about the pandemic: "Here's the deal, if everybody who is offered a vaccine takes a vaccine, we can make a movie, we will make a movie.

"It's the usual thing. The planets are circling. They are beginning to get into alignment. There is a thing called coronavirus knocking around and until that is under control in a sensible way, we are not going to be able to get all those ducks in a row. Mixing my metaphors here. But there is certainly the intention to do it,” the Downton Abbey actor explained.  

Let's all keep our fingers crossed for a 2021 Christmas sequel!