According to sources, "Downton Abbey" could end after Season 6.

TV Guide reports that Julian Fellowes, "Downton Abbey" creator, signed a deal with NBC Universal to work on a another show in 2012. The show, titled "The Gilded Age" is another historical fiction drama, this time following New York's wealthy in the 1880s.

Radio Times cites "sources" at NBC Universal, who say that this may mean that "Downton Abbey" will end in the season after the one currently airing in Britain on iTV. Fellowes has reportedly stated in the past that Season 5 will not be the last.

"Earlier this year, writer and creator Julian Fellowes hinted as much," Radio Times reported. "Production on his 19th century New York drama for 'Downton' producers NBC Universal, 'The Gilded Age,' has been held up because of his 'Downton' commitments. He said in January he cannot commit to both shows ..."

In January, Fellowes said he does not know whether or not "Downton Abbey" will go on for more than six seasons.

"I don't know yet if there is a season 6, but it's not going to go on forever," he said in an interview with Wall Street Journal. "It won't be 'Perry Mason.'"

Gareth Neame, 'Downton Abbey' executive producer, said ITV orders episodes of the show one season at a time. Season 6 has not yet been confirmed.

Recently, Laura Carmichael, who plays Lady Edith Crawley, said she was originally regarded as the ugly Crawley sister and gets treated differently from Michelle Dockery, who plays Edith's older sister, Lady Mary Crawley.

"It was really funny opening the newspaper and reading the reviews and going, 'Oh, I'm playing the ugly one,'" Carmichael told Radio Times. "I hadn't thought of that."

"We definitely have a different way," Carmichael said according to The Telegraph. "I've watched people talk to Michelle like she's the queen -- she's Lady Mary."

Season 5 of "Downton Abbey" starts in the U.S. on PBS on Jan. 4, 2015.

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Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @ScharHar.

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