HBO's 'American Downton Abbey' Officially Returns In 2 Months

Published Sep 2, 2026, 12:30 PM EDT Memory Ngulube joined Screen Rant in April 2024 as part of the Movies and TV team. Since then, she has written for the Perennials and Streaming team, covering a wide range of topics from new releases to old movies and TV shows. Memory is currently a Classic TV writer. Before joining Screen Rant, Memory was a freelance copywriter who specialized in email marketing and social media management. While she enjoyed her job, her true passion was always movies and TV. When she isn’t writing for Screen Rant, Memory can be found reading, baking (which is one of her passions), or watching her favorite K-drama. HBO is most widely known as the home of Game of Thrones, but the streamer has other prestige dramas, including a beloved series that can best be described as the American Downton Abbey. Running for six seasons, with the story continuing in three feature films, the Downton Abbey franchise's popularity proved that audiences will always be fascinated by stories about the aristocracy. Downton Abbey is the kind of show that is difficult to replicate, but HBO’s The Gilded Age comes close to capturing the series’ spirit. Set in the changing world of 1880s New York, the series follows old-money families desperately trying to protect their influence as a new generation of wealthy outsiders attempts to force its way into high society. With its lavish display of opulence and social maneuvering, the drama portrayed in The Gilded Age rivals even the biggest soap operas — and Downton Abbey. The Gilded Age’s cast includes Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Morgan Spector, and Denée Benton, who have played a major role in turning the show's ensemble into one of its biggest draws. The historical drama currently holds an 89% average Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, and the series has only gotten better with each season. With the success that The Gilded Age has enjoyed so far, the show’s upcoming installment promises to be another dramatic, character-driven, compelling season. The Gilded Age Season 4 Is Almost Here After leaving viewers with one of its most dramatic finales yet, HBO's The Gilded Age is finally preparing to return. Season 4 is officially set to premiere on November 1, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and HBO Max, meaning the wait is now down to two months. The new season, like the show’s past installments, will consist of eight episodes, with new cast members including Dennis Haysbert, Maggie Kuntz, Bonnie Milligan, James Scully, Taylor Trensch, and Neal Huff. The show's return is exciting because The Gilded Age season 3 ended with several major characters with completely different personal dilemmas. Though George Russell (Spector) survived being shot, his relationship with Bertha (Coon) was left in serious trouble after he made it clear that her decision to marry their daughter Gladys (Taissa Farmiga) to the Duke had damaged his trust in her. Meanwhile, Marian (Louisa Jacobson) and Larry's (Harry Richardson) relationship remained complicated despite their tentative reconciliation, and Peggy (Benton) faced major developments in her personal life after a long-overdue proposal. The Gilded Age season 4 will explore the aftermath of these events. HBO's official synopsis teases that Bertha's social success has come at a cost, forcing her family to deal with the fallout. At the same time, Christine Baranski's Agnes van Rhijn will attempt to reclaim her position in New York society. Why The Gilded Age Is America's Answer To Downton Abbey HBO via MovieStillsDB The comparison between HBO's The Gilded Age and Downton Abbey is almost inevitable. Both are lavish historical dramas created by Julian Fellowes, and both are fascinated by wealthy families, complicated social hierarchies, and romance. While Downton Abbey examines the decline of the British aristocracy, The Gilded Age explores the rise of America's new elite. Downton Abbey divides its story between the aristocratic Crawley family and the servants working on their estate. The Gilded Age takes a similar approach, following wealthy New York families while also giving significant attention to their servants. The Gilded Age is in many ways the American equivalent of the Crawleys trying to preserve their place in a changing Britain. Both series are also interested in exploring society during a transitional period. Downton Abbey begins in 1912 and follows Britain through World War I and beyond, and the erosion of the traditional aristocratic system. The Gilded Age goes further back to show the forces that helped create America's modern elite. Given that Fellowes is at the helm of The Gilded Age and Downton Abbey, his fascination with class, manners, and social ambition is clear in both TV shows. The Gilded Age essentially takes what worked in Downton Abbey and rebuilds it around America’s history. The Gilded Age season 4 premieres November 1 on HBO, with new episodes dropping weekly. Release Date January 24, 2022 Network HBO Max Showrunner Julian Fellowes Cast Morgan Spector George Russell The Creator of Downton Abbey returns to the small screen with The Gilded Age, a period drama set in the late 1800s in the United States. When Marian Brook's father passes away, she leaves to move in with her two aunts, two well-to-do women at the center of New York City's social system. However, the old-money socialites find their world disrupted when a young and wealthy couple moves to New York, showing Marian there may be more to life than the rigid societal traditions of old.