“Maybe It’s a Good Thing”: ‘Downton Abbey’ Star Explains Why They’re Missing From the Final Movie

With his brand-new Netflix crime series, Department Q, on the horizon, Watchmen and Downton Abbey star Matthew Goode is on the minds of many, especially those hoping for a comeback for Henry Talbot in the upcoming final installment, The Grand Finale, scheduled to premiere on September 12. With many of the show’s most memorable names returning for a last look into the lives of the Crawleys et al., including the likes of Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Michelle Dockery, Joanne Froggatt, Jim Carter, and even a returning Paul Giamatti who is reprising his role as Harold Levinson, could Goode be joining the last hurrah?

In an interview with Radio Times, Goode delivered the perhaps expected but nevertheless sad news that Talbot will not be returning for the final installment in Julian Fellowes’ beloved period franchise, which will come as little surprise as he wasn’t in the second film either. After admitting that it’s probably a “good thing” Talbot isn’t returning, Goode confirmed that he “was unavailable for the second because I was doing The Offer. Then [for the third] I was shooting this. But I also buggered my knee, and I had to have an operation.” He then added:

“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.”

How Did the Last ‘Downton Abbey’ Movie Perform at the Box Office?

Downton Abbey has long been a favorite franchise of many across the world, with the choice to park the small-screen historical drama and venture into theaters certainly unsurprising. However, following the first, 2019 big-screen project turned in nearly $200 million at the global box office, the sequel, A New Era, fared much worse, perhaps suggesting that the upcoming fate of the final installment isn’t a certain success. Although made on a reported budget of $40 million and therefore finishing its theatrical run as a gentle success, A New Era only managed a total of $92 million from its worldwide release, split between $44 million domestically and $48 million from overseas markets. With an additional $6.8 million coming from domestic video sales, the penultimate installment couldn’t crack the $100 million mark, but perhaps the upcoming final outing will.