‘Downton Abbey’ season 4: Dan Stevens silent on departure rumors
If Dan Stevens is really plotting to leave “Downton Abbey” early on in season 4, which has been the subject of many rumors as of late, he sure seems to have an awfully strange way of showing it.
So what is the actor doing in the wake of his departure rumors? At the moment, absolutely nothing. He has yet to address the situation at all on Twitter, despite the fact that just about every major media outlet in Britain (plus a few in America) have chosen to write about it. He has tweeted a bit more generically about Thanksgiving (as he is in New York at the moment) and shared a few somewhat-cryptic quotes, there is nothing that works as tangible evidence that the press reports out there about his exit are true or false.
There is one magic situation here that strangely no one has considered: couldn’t this just be a negotiation move to act as though you are moving on in order to secure a more lucrative deal? Before he was fired from “Two and a Half Men,” we saw Charlie Sheen do this and act as though he wanted to leave the show; meanwhile, both Ellen Pompeo and Patrick Dempsey each were coy about their future on “Grey’s Anatomy” before signing two long-term deals. Is Stevens does appear on just one season 4 episode and then walks away, he would be following in similar footsteps to Eric Dane on “Grey’s Anatomy” this year, or to a lesser extent Ashton Kutcher on “That 70’s Show” (since he at least appeared in a few episodes before departing in the show’s final season).
If Stevens does leave, though, it can only be attributed to one thing: he really wants to occupy his time doing other things. It will be hard for him to find a job with a larger global audience, and in TV especially few give you the same sort of flexibility to do other things like “Downton Abbey” given its eight-episode seasons plus the Christmas special.
Do you think Stevens should stay on “Downton Abbey” for one more go?
lady buccaneer
January 13, 2013 @ 5:18 pm
I really enjoy the show but it’s a pity Julian won’t consider replacing the actors instead of killing off the characters. Especially Matthew who is heavily invested in the series.
The only actor that couldn’t easily be replaced is Maggie Smith!
Julian, take back control of your story. Sure, we all loved Dan but give someone else a chance! It seems pretty lame to leave Lady Mary a widow so soon after the wedding.
Leave the tear jerking to Nicholas Sparks.
HELEN DALMAIN
November 30, 2012 @ 2:53 am
PLEASE STAY HE IS SUCH A DARLING DOWNTON WOULD NOT BE THE SAME IF DAN WAS TO LEAVE .
Jaz
November 29, 2012 @ 5:46 pm
I really hope Dan stays otherwise the whole storyline of the last 3 series would have been a waste of time.
Marjorie
November 29, 2012 @ 6:48 am
Mr Stevens has recently said that we shouldn’t listen to what is being said in the press as they are “rumours” and we should just “wait and see” .
Of course we would all like to see him continue in the role of Matthew Crawley as he and Lady Mary are what Downton Abbey is about and their story isn’t finished yet !
Whatever the outcome I am sure that he will have given much thought to his future and will do what he thinks best for himself and his family when they return from New York in 2013.
sue
November 28, 2012 @ 1:25 pm
There is information on the web that Dan has signed on to do a film in Tanzania entitled The Catastrophist, which is scheduled to begin shooting in February 2013. This film has been in pre production for quite awhile.
Rosaline
November 27, 2012 @ 8:07 pm
Re-casting on a continuing drama is always a dreadful thing to do.
I don’t want any Matthew that’s not played by Dan Stevens.
Dan Stevens hasn’t actually said anything EVER about leaving Downton Abbey nor does anyone have any idea what has happened behind the scenes. ITV make sure their actors are super secretive regarding the show, and it’s Dan that the papers have attacked with this question, when other cast members have also said that they don’t know if they’re coming back. No one’s dwelling on those though are they? Michelle isn’t even confirmed. And we didn’t know there would be a series 4 until this week, so no one knew what was happening!
All this talk based on nothing is laughable. Just leave the man alone and wait until the CS has aired. Well I’m in the UK so I don’t have long for that.
Also, Jessica Brown Findlay has left and no one has said a thing. And she actually LEFT.
Obviously I’d love Dan to stay. Him, Michelle and Maggie are my favourites. But we know nothing yet, so I don’t understand why this is going on.
Dan is doing the best thing by keeping quiet.
And Americans talk about “more money” as if our tv is like yours. Actors over here in dramas get paid average amounts. Most just live ordinary lives in regular houses. Nothing like what your “stars” get paid. So I actually think in series 4, they should all get salary increases given the popularity of the show. It’s only fair.
Helen
November 27, 2012 @ 6:47 pm
Dan Stevens is probably just holding out for more money and has no real commitment to Downton.
My advice to Dan – don’t delude yourself and be too greedy. You would have a much greater chance of making it in Hollywood with an Emmy under your belt for DA. You weren’t even nominated in 2011. So settle down, don’t get ahead of yourself and help make seasons 4 ( and possibly 5) the success we know they can be.
If agreement can’t be reached, I think they should just re-cast Matthew Crawley rather than writing him out of the show entirely. I’m very sure the fans would be supportive of the right replacement actor. No one is irreplaceable.
Frances
November 27, 2012 @ 11:21 am
Dan Stevens should stay on Downton Abbey. He can still do other work after filming Downton Abbey.