'Downton Abbey' Prequel: Julian Fellowes Wants To Write Story Of Robert And Cora's Courtship

'Downton Abbey' Prequel Could Happen
In this image released by PBS, Elizabeth McGovern as Lady Cora is shown in a scene from the second season of "Downton Abbey." The series received an Emmy nomination on Thursday, July 19, 2012 for costume design. The 64th annual Primetime Emmy Awards will be presented Sept. 23 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and airing live on ABC. (AP Photo/PBS, Carnival Film & Television Limited 2011 for MASTERPIECE, Nick Briggs)
In this image released by PBS, Elizabeth McGovern as Lady Cora is shown in a scene from the second season of "Downton Abbey." The series received an Emmy nomination on Thursday, July 19, 2012 for costume design. The 64th annual Primetime Emmy Awards will be presented Sept. 23 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and airing live on ABC. (AP Photo/PBS, Carnival Film & Television Limited 2011 for MASTERPIECE, Nick Briggs)

Ever wondered about Earl and Lady Grantham's life pre-Downton?

"Downton Abbey" creator Julian Fellowes wants to work on the story of Robert (Hugh Bonneville) and Cora's (Elizabeth McGovern) courtship.

"I do actually have an idea of doing a prequel of the courtship of Robert and Cora, when all those American heiresses were arriving in London," Fellowes said at the Bafta Screenwriters' Lecture series, according to BBC. "They had a slightly troubled courtship, because she was in love with him before they married, as we know, and he married her entirely for her money.

"I sort of feel there's something quite nice in there because he's a decent cove, and so he feels rather guilty about this which has affected their marriage beyond that."

Although Season 2 of the BBC series has been criticized for being too melodramatic, with "Sherlock" star Benedict Cumberbatch calling it "f------ atrocious," "Downton Abbey" actress and Emmy nominee Joanne Froggatt made a strong case in defense of the show's second season.

"With Season 2, there was The Great War," Froggatt, who plays Anna Bates, told HuffPost. "So that kind of sets the bar for how things are going to be done. If you decide to tackle that period and those particular years, then you have to have the drama. You have to have more extreme storylines. It wouldn’t make sense not to."

Season 3 of "Downton Abbey" will return in January.

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