Downton Abbey star's new movie gets first trailer and release date

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry will be released soon.

By George Lewis

3 Feb 2023

penelope wilton, the unlikely pilgrimage of harold fry

eOne

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, the new movie starring Jim Broadbent and Downton Abbey’s Penelope Wilton, has announced its release date along with a new trailer.

The film, which is based on Rachel Joyce’s 2012 novel, sees the pair play husband and wife, Harold and Maureen. The plot follows Harold, an “unremarkable man”, as he walks some 500 miles to visit a dying friend.

jim broadbent, the unlikely pilgrimage of harold fry

eOne

Directed by Hettie Macdonald (Normal People), the film is described as an “uplifting tale of self-discovery, redemption and learning to seize the moment”, with its release date currently scheduled for April 28.

The uplifting trailer shows Harold interacting with numerous fans, who have taken to his story after reading it on the news. Despite his newfound fame, Maureen stays at home, seemingly perplexed at his actions. The clip also hints that tragedy struck in Harold and Maureen’s past, so some tissues may be in order at the end of his story.

Wilton, who has also starred in After Life and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, played Isobel Grey on Downton Abbey, which ran on ITV from 2010 until 2015. She also reprised her role in both of the feature films, which were released in 2018 and 2022 respectively.

Ahead of the release of A New Era last year, several castmates praised the work of Maggie Smith, who played Dowager Countess Violet Crawley.

“Sometimes I still pinch myself that I get to work with Maggie and have worked with her for so many years now. It's a real privilege because she is one of the greats,” said Michelle Dockery, who played Lady Mary Talbot.

Hugh Bonneville, who plays Robert Crawley, added: “Maggie Smith is a phenomenon, let's face it. You just have to raise your game whenever you're on set with her because she takes no prisoners.”

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry will be released in cinemas on April 28. Downton Abbey: A New Era is now out to buy as a digital download.