Downton Abbey’s Julian Fellowes Brings The Gilded Age to NBC

Downton Abbey’s Julian Fellowes brings The Gilded Age to NBC

NBC is proudly entering The Gilded Age. For those missing the Dowager Countess’ condescending glares or the evening ring of the dinner bell, there’s a new Julian Fellowes drama on tap at NBC that brings an upstairs/downstairs tale Stateside.

The network is teaming with the acclaimed writer and executive producer Gareth Neame, the creative forces behind the hugely popular PBS series Downton Abbey, for a 10-episode series order that will begin in 2019.

The series will be produced by Universal Television and executive produced by Fellowes and Neame.

Fellowes, who is an Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe-winning writer, was honored with an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special and was nominated three other times. On the film side, Fellowes won an Oscar in 2002 and was Golden Globe nominated for his screenplay of Gosford Park.

“To write ‘The Gilded Age’ is the fulfillment of a personal dream,” Fellowes said. “I have been fascinated by this period of American history for many years and now NBC has given me the chance to bring it to a modern audience. I could not be more excited and thrilled. The truth is, America is a wonderful country with a rich and varied history, and nothing could give me more pleasure than be the person to bring that compelling history to the screen.”

“Julian Fellowes has the peerless ability to create complex characters and relationships set against a fantastic backdrop,” said Jennifer Salke, President, NBC Entertainment. “We’re thrilled that NBC and Universal Television will bring you his delicious new take on both the emerging rich and the working class who were intricately entwined in opulent New York in 1882. It’s an addictive new universe of fabulous people with the same signature style, wit and emotional resonance for which Julian is famous.”

The Gilded Age in 1880s New York City was a period of immense social upheaval, of huge fortunes made and lost, and of palaces that spanned the length of Fifth Avenue. In the series, Marian Brook is the wide-eyed young scion of a conservative family who will embark on infiltrating the wealthy neighboring family dominated by ruthless railroad tycoon George Russell, his rakish and available son Larry, and his ambitious wife Bertha, whose “new money” is a barrier to acceptance by the Astor and Vanderbilt set. Marian is about to experience a whole new world springing up right outside her front door.

Fellowes’ Downton Abbey, which was produced by Neame’s Carnival Films, ran for six seasons and has been seen in more than 250 territories worldwide, is recognized as one of the most acclaimed and popular British drama series of all time. The series was an immediate hit in the U.S. and U.K. and won both the Emmy in 2011 for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie and the Golden Globe the following year for Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television. In fact, Downton Abbey is the most nominated non-U.S. show in the history of the Emmys with 69 nominations and 15 wins.

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

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