Dan Stevens Not Returning to 'Downton Abbey'

News from the well-kept drawing rooms of ‘Downton Abbey’—and it’s not good.

Dan Stevens, who plays key character Matthew Crawley, will not be returning to the show for a fourth season.

“We were always optioned for three years, and when that came up it was a very difficult decision,” Stevens said. “But I felt like it was a good time to take stock, to take a moment. From a personal point of view, I wanted a chance to do other things.”

The 30-year-old actor added, “It was a very monopolizing job, so there is a strange sense of liberation at the same time as great sadness because I am very, very fond of the show and always will be.”

Stevens made the decision not to return to the show last February during contract renewal negotiations. Season three will be airing in America on January 6^th.

Stevens is currently starring in The Heiress on Broadway, beside Jessica Chastain.

Creator Julian Fellowes has promised that he will not re-cast Matthew Crawley with another actor, leading to the question—what will become of the show?

“Sometimes actors feel they want to move on,” Fellowes said. “If they don’t want to come back, there’s nothing we can do.”

So what should we expect?

Spoiler alert!

For those who don’t want to ruin the upcoming season, consider this the end of the article, because we have spoilers from season three.

And they deal with the exit of Matthew Crawley.

After finally celebrating his wedding with Mary, and a new baby, Matthew takes his final bow in a horrific car accident. Thus exits Dan Stevens, who hung around even after becoming wounded and paralyzed, but was finally done in by a joyride.