Why Isn't Matthew Goode in <i>Downton Abbey: A New Era</i>? (2024)

Downton Abbey is missing one of its main characters in Downton Abbey: A New Era: Matthew Goode's Henry Talbot. While he made a small cameo in the first film, Goode does not appear in the sequel at all.

Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) explains his absence by saying her husband is traveling the world racing cars, and doesn't want to come home. But, in reality, actor Matthew Goode's schedule did not allow for him to appear in the second Downton film. He was working on his new show The Offer and could not fit in a cameo for Downton. In The Offer, Goode plays Robert Evans, the late, legendary movie producer and Paramount Studio CEO.

Goode first appeared in the Downton Abbey universe in season five's Christmas special, and starred in the final season as Lady Mary's love interest (and eventual husband). In the first Downton Abbey film, he is briefly seen returning home after traveling abroad. He told Radio Times ahead of the first movie, "I'm just popping in at the end, which is a nice way to do it." At the time, he also had scheduling conflicts, working on the TV show A Discovery of Witches.

Goode was the only key cast member not to return for Downton Abbey: A New Era, and his character's absence allows for the possibility of a romantic plotline between Lady Mary and director Jack Barber (Hugh Dancy). "There’s trouble in paradise," Jack tells Lady Mary in the trailer for the film. She replies: "You don’t need me to tell you that marriage is a novel full of plot twists along the way."

Downton Abbey: A New Era is now available to stream on demand.

Watch on Prime Video

Watch on YouTube Movies

Watch on Apple TV