Dan Stevens Explains His Exciting Reason For Leaving Downton Abbey
Downton Abbeyactor Dan Stevens has recently opened up about why he left the successful series before its conclusion. Downton Abbey, created by Julian Fellowes, is set in the early 20th century and tells the story of the aristocratic Crawley family and their numerous servants who live downstairs. The series ran until season 6 between 2010 and 2015, and along the way amassed a huge fan base, as well as many accolades including 15 Primetime Emmys. The viewership of Downton Abbey has continued to grow in the years since the series' conclusion, especially with the release of the Downton Abbey movie in 2019. A sequel film,Downton Abbey: A New Era,is scheduled to hit theatres on May 20.
Given Downton Abbey's huge success, it may be difficultto imagine any actor wanting to leave the series early. However, Stevens did just that after Downton Abbey season 3. At the time, fans had watched for nearly three years as Matthew and Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) had navigated their 'will they/won't they' relationship, only to finally get married at the beginning of season 3. It was hardly the payoff fans were looking for, when in the final moments of the Downton Abbey season 3 finale, only minutes after Mary had given birth to their son, Matthew is killed in a car accident. However, Matthew's death was not originally part of the Downton Abbey storyline, but a necessary plot point after Stevens' decision to leave the role.
Related: Downton Abbey: A New Era — What Is The Dowager Countess' Secret?
In a recent interview with The Guardian, Stevens explained why he decided to leave a lead role on a such a successful series. According to Stevens, his departure was due to having «creative itches left unscratched.» Stevens explained that he
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