Julian Fellowes won’t cast different actor for Matthew Crawley role

With rumours that Dan Steven is leaving the series, Julian said she won’t replace role of Matthew Crawley.

13:58 19 December 2012

Julian Fellowes revealed that should Dan Steven decide to leave Downtown Abbey, she will not recast Matthew Crawley. Dan has previously said that he would leave, according to reports. So far, there is no word yet if he has had a change of heart.

 

Creator Julian Fellowes explained her decision to the Telegraph, saying: “I don’t think it’s ever going to be right to recast a different actor for the same character in Downton.

 

“You can do it with something like Sherlock Holmes and Watson, as they are very established and iconic, and many people have played them, so you have a kind of freedom. But, in a series like Downton, it wouldn’t be right.

 

“You want viewers to think that it is kind of real, and changing actor would be like saying, 'Hey, guys, it is not real at all’, and lose the show some of its authenticity.”

 

The Oscar-winning screenwriter said that although she cannot control the fact that actors come and go, introducing new characters and making changes on plotlines is better than recasting.