Downton Abbey Star Matthew Goode Confirms Absence from The Grand Finale
In a recent interview, actor Matthew Goode has confirmed that he will not be appearing in the upcoming third instalment of the Downton Abbey film series, titled The Grand Finale. According to the Express, Goode cited a scheduling conflict with a different shoot, as well as a knee injury that required surgery, as the reasons for his absence.
Goode, who played the role of Henry Talbot in the original Downton Abbey TV series and the first film, noted that the absence of his character may be for the best. "That takes weeks to get over, so I was never going to be able to do it. And let’s face it, he was edging towards becoming a bit of a wet lettuce. So maybe it’s a good thing," he told Radio Times. The actor had previously starred in the original Downton Abbey TV series through seasons five and six, and went on to star in the first film in 2019.
During his time in the franchise, Goode’s character married Mary, played by Michelle Dockery, and the pair had their happily-ever-after. However, with his absence from the third film, fans will not see the continuation of this storyline. Goode is currently starring in a new thriller series, Dept Q, which is available on Netflix. The series, created by Scott Frank, follows a cold case department being set up within a Scottish police force.
Frank lavished praise on Goode, stating: "I’ve been working with him since 2006. Matthew just felt like this guy. I was writing with him in mind. I knew that he could do this and that he would lend this undeniable intelligence with his flintiness, but that he could also be emotional without being sentimental," according to the Express. In Dept Q, Goode plays the role of grumpy Detective Morck, who is assigned a new department at the police station in Edinburgh.
The nine-part series follows Morck as he chooses to solve the mysterious disappearance of prosecutor Merritt Lingard, who went missing four years previously. When asked about a potential season two, Goode expressed his hope for more episodes, stating: "That’s the hope," as reported by the Express. He also suggested that he would like to see more of Alexej Manvelov’s character Akram in a potential season two.
Goode’s comments on the possibility of a season two have likely excited fans of the series. As noted by the Express, Goode’s absence from the Downton Abbey film series has been confirmed, but his fans can still look forward to seeing him in Dept Q and potentially in future seasons of the series. The Express has been a leading source of information on Goode’s projects, and has provided extensive coverage of his roles in both Downton Abbey and Dept Q.
