Downton Abbey’s Rob James-Collier is using the Force to help raise money for charity, by creating a Star Wars spoof video with his co-stars.
The 38-year-old actor – who plays evil butler Thomas in the hit period drama – is running the London Marathon in aid of The Chilterns Multiple Sclerosis Centre. And in a bid to hit his fundraising target of £10,000, he has enlisted his co-stars to create short film Downton Wars: The Phantom Valet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56Zc8dKeDFk&feature=oembed
Rob teased the first half of the video on his website evilbutler.com, and has promised to unveil the second instalment when he reaches his £10,000 target.
He said: “If you like people from Downton and/or lightsabers then please – dig deep.”
Let's get to £7k now people! If you want to see more of this – GET DONATING! Thank you! RT! pic.twitter.com/tuAbz1gWDf
— Rob James-Collier (@TheEvilButler) April 14, 2015
The film begins, ‘A long time ago, in a studio far, far away…’, before showing Brendan Coyle as valet Mr Bates running onto the Downton set in a long, flowing black cape.
He meets wife Anna, played by Joanne Froggatt, in the servant’s dining room and they have a row about his belief in the 'ancient order of the Jedi'.
My reaction when I was told we'd hit £7k for @ChilternsMS! AMAZING PEOPLE – THANK YOU! Let's keep it going! pic.twitter.com/QycAJnX51D
— Rob James-Collier (@TheEvilButler) April 14, 2015
Bates then encounters Thomas in the kitchen corridor and they are about to embark on a lightsabre battle when butler Carson (Jim Carter) interrupts to say Thomas is needed in the dining room.
The video ends ‘To be continued…?’
AMAZING DAY of fundraising! Keep up this great work! Who else will we see in part 2? I wonder! http://t.co/vmwBnx5mwE pic.twitter.com/8lLRroePAl
— Rob James-Collier (@TheEvilButler) April 9, 2015
If Rob hits his target, he has promised to release Downton Wars Part 2: The Evil Butler Strikes Back.
