A tale of wealth, class, and rivalry in 1880s New York, from the creator of Downton Abbey

What happens when Downton Abbey meets the novels of Edith Wharton? Enter The Gilded Age, Julian Fellowes’ latest period drama, set to premiere on Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK on 25 January, and on HBO in the United States.

Set in the opulent yet turbulent 1880s, the series explores New York’s high society during a time of rapid industrial growth and rising fortunes. The story centres on Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson, daughter of Meryl Streep), who moves in with her affluent aunts following her father’s death. In a brilliant casting duo, the aunts are portrayed by Christine Baranski (Mamma Mia!) and Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City), both expected to deliver the sharp wit reminiscent of Dowager Countess Violet Crawley.

Marian soon befriends Peggy (Denée Benton), an aspiring writer, and becomes entangled in a conflict between her old-money relatives and their nouveau riche neighbours, led by railroad tycoon George Russell (Morgan Spector) and his ambitious wife Bertha (Carrie Coon). Themes of class tension, social ambition, and opulent costumes dominate the narrative, marking it as classic Fellowes fare.

The nine-episode series reunites Fellowes with producer Gareth Neame and director Michael Engler, collaborators from Downton Abbey. Fans are already speculating about potential ties to Downton, including a possible appearance by a young Violet Crawley, the future Dowager Countess, portrayed by Maggie Smith in the original series.

As viewers await the premiere, The Gilded Age promises to transport audiences into a world of glittering wealth, societal clashes, and the human stories that lie beneath the gilded exterior.