‘Downton Abbey’ Ending: Cancellation News Breaks, Season 6 Reportedly To Be The Last

Season 6 of Downton Abbey will be the last, it seems, and the news will surely disappoint many fans. While viewers surely would have stuck with the show for quite a bit longer, reports indicate that the Downton Abbey cancellation comes as most of the cast members have expressed an interest in moving on to other projects.

As TVLine notes, the contracts for the cast members expire at the end of Season 6, which is filming right now. Though apparently a couple of cast members are up for coming back, sources indicate that the majority of those with the show are ready to bid farewell. The end of the initial contract period is what led to the departures of the characters of both Sybil and Matthew Crawley after Season 3.

So far NBC Universal, which is over show producer Carnival, has not confirmed the news regarding the Downton Abbey cancellation. There had been some talk that this upcoming season might be the show’s last, but this is the first that it’s been confirmed by insiders.

Season 6 is filming right now, with a fall premiere date slated on ITV in the United Kingdom and a January, 2016, premiere date anticipated for PBS in the United States. By determining now that this will be the show’s last, creator Julian Fellowes can work toward a proper ending for the cast and viewers.

As E! Online notes, there have been hints that the end may be coming for the show. Alan Leech, who has played Tom Branson, previously noted that he thought the natural ending of the show would come after six seasons. Maggie Smith generated a lot of buzz recently by sharing similar comments. She had scared fans by seemingly indicating that she was leaving after Season 6, but her rep soon clarified that Smith would stay with the show for however long it ran.

There have been highs and lows for the Crawleys over the years of Downton Abbey and things ended on a fun note at the end of Season 5 with the big engagement between Carson and Hughes. What does Fellowes have in store for everybody in this final season? Naturally fans will have to wait a bit to find out, as detailed Downton Abbey spoilers about big show events are typically fairly rare.

Is it the right call to cancel Downton Abbey after Season 6, or should there be more of an effort to keep it going longer? How would you like to see it all end?

[Image via Variety]