It's official: The sequel to the Downton Abbey movie is coming out this year

While it has only been just over a year since fans were treated to the return of the beloved period drama Downton Abbey in feature-length form, the official word around the manor is a sequel is on the way this year!

When the long-running series left our screens in 2016, fans of Downton Abbey were delighted to see all of our favourites characters from the original TV show, including Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville), Violet Crawley (Maggie Smith), Mary Crawley (Michelle Dockery), Anna Bates (Joanne Froggatt) and Cora Crawley (Elizabeth McGovern), returned to the big screen.

And now producer Gareth Neame has announced that this coming Christmas we will be reunited with the much-loved characters.

"After a very challenging year with so many of us separated from family and friends, it is a huge comfort to think that better times are ahead," Neame said in a statement.

After the announcement, Downton star Hugh Bonneville – who starred as Robert Crawley - took to Twitter to share his excitement about the new movie.

"Good to be back. #DowntonAbbey2," he wrote alongside a photo of him posing in front of a Downton Abbey poster.

Neame - who worked as executive producer on the original TV series - previously revealed to The Hollywood Reporter they actually started working on the plot for a sequel not long after the first film was unveiled.

"It's the same as the first time around: We have to try to get everyone back together again. And that was very challenging," he told the publication.

"The challenge will be, is everyone available at the same time? Can we make deals with them? That will be the challenge."

All we can say is BRING IT ON!