The multi-million dollar Downton Abbey: The Exhibition, which launched in Singapore, is now set to tour the United States.
The immersive exhibit will make its New York debut on November 18th, reports the Hollywood Reporter. The attraction is set around the multi-award winning Carnival Films/Masterpiece television series,Downton Abbey.The period drama, based around the aristocratic British Crawley family, has been seen in more than 250 territories.NBCUniversal International Studios, who created the exhibition with Imagine Exhibitions, has just announced its future plans for the exhibition.
Downton Abbey: The Exhibitionlaunched in Singapore this summer, as reported by Blooloop.
The aim is to “connect fans with their favourite characters, costumes, locations and historic events of the era, as well as showcase never-before-seen footage" according to NBCUniversal.
"Debuting in 2010 and now seen in over 250 territories,Downton Abbeyquickly became a global phenomenon,” says MichaelEdelstein, president ofNBCUniversalInternational Studios. “Especially in the U.S. where the series established an incredibly loyal and avid fan base.” He explains thatDownton Abbey: The Exhibitionwill continue this legacy.
“PBS normally does not get 12 million viewers on aSundaynight, but this show managed to strike a chord in America that caught everybody by surprise,” Edelstein said earlier this year. “No British drama has really done it since, so we feel like America is really the big opportunity."
The exhibition will be based in midtown Manhattan for a limited period.Then the multi-million-dollar show will travel around the U.S.Additional cities are yet to be announced.
Visitors will be taken on an intimate journey through historic Downton Abbey.They will become immersed in Mrs. Patmore’s bustling kitchen and the gossipy servants’ quarters.They will eavesdrop on the glamorous dining room and Lady Mary’s bedroom.Visitors can also see more than 50 official costumes worn by actors including Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville and Dame Maggie Smith.
Downton Abbey: The Exhibitionis also a living history lesson, looking at aspects of the post-Edwardian period.It gives insights into historic events alongside British society, culture and fashion.
"This is a unique opportunity to step intoDownton Abbey,” saysGareth Neame, Executive Producer of the series and Managing Director of Carnival Films."The exhibition will appeal both to avid fans — well acquainted with the show — as well as those who are only just embarking on theDowntonjourney and want to see what the noise was all about."
It will also keep fans happy while they wait for the eagerly anticipatedDownton Abbeymovie. The film remains in the planning stages, with production likely to start in 2018
Downton Abbeyaired for six seasons and reached more than 26 million viewers in its final U.S. season.It was the highest-rated PBS drama series of all time.It is also the most nominated non-U.S. show in the history of the Emmys, with 15 wins and 69 nominations.
Image credit: Gareth Patterson/AP Images for CEC Entertainment