Teo is coming back for the film.
by Caroline Halleman
The now-iconic Downton Abbey credits begin with a somewhat unusual image. Viewers of the popular series are introduced to life at the estate by a man and his dog walking toward the stately manor house.
Throughout the series, Lord Grantham’s love of dogs was evident, and in the final season, he received a new pup named Teo from his mother, the Dowager Countess.
Nearly every fan favorite character is returning for the upcoming film, and that includes Teo. (The dog’s name was previously thought to be Tiaa, but that has been confirmed incorrect.) The Crawley’s four-legged family member is being played in the movie by labrador named Benji, and the latest preview of the movie offers a behind-the-scenes look at the set from his perspective.
In the clip, Benji runs through Highclere Castle, the real life home which serves as Downton Abby, and you see him greeting Hugh Bonneville (who plays Lord Grantham), Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary), Allen Leech (Tom Branson), and Elizabeth McGovern (Cora).
McGovern seems perhaps most excited to see the pup on set. The footage also reveals exactly what a working film set looks like, with a huge number of people and equipment.