Downton Abbey star Elizabeth McGovern has landed a major new role on television, joining the cast for The Talamasca.
As per The Hollywood Reporter, McGovern will join Nicholas Denton and William Fichtner in the six-part series, which serves as part of AMC's Anne Rice Immortal Universe alongside Interview With The Vampire and Mayfair Witches.
Inspired by the works of novelist Anne Rice, The Talamasca will follow the secretive society of the same name, who are the "men and women responsible for tracking and containing the witches, vampires and other creatures scattered around the globe."
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McGovern, who played Cora Crawley in Downton Abbey as well as its two spin-off films, will reportedly play Helen in The Talamasca, who is described as "a seasoned veteran of the Talamasca and the leader of its New York Motherhouse.
"She has long suspected that London’s Motherhouse has fallen under the influence of traitorous elements, and a mysterious death prompts her to recruit Guy Anatole as her protégé," continues the character description.
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Denton and Fichtner will play Guy Anatole and Jasper respectively, with John Lee Hancock - best known for Saving Mr Banks and The Founder - directing all six parts, as well as serving as showrunner alongside Mark Lafferty.
Whilst The Talamasca isn't expected to be on screen until next year, work is currently underway on a third Downton Abbey film, with lead star Hugh Bonneville recently teasing that it would be the "best one yet".
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"For my character, I think the usual [can be expected], which is that he's a sort of dinosaur trying to be led into the future reluctantly, and then eventually he stumbles forward a bit," he said. "So as always, there's that rhythm of things changing with glacial slowness."
He added that "it's time to move the story on, so to speak".
"I think there's so much warmth and fun to enjoy, and new elements as well - which I won't spoil - that I think it'll certainly be the best iteration of the film versions yet," the actor said.
The Talamasca currently has no release date. Downton Abbey: A New Era is now out to buy as a digital download. A third movie is in production.
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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
