Downton Abbey fans told 'real reason' Matthew Goode doesn't appear in final film

If you love period dramas, you're in luck, as a new Downtown Abbey film is being released today (September 12). Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is set to hit screens this week, and fans can't wait to see it.

Set in 1930, Michelle Dockery’s Lady Mary finds herself ostracised by society for her divorce, while Hugh Bonneville’s Lord Grantham faces financial difficulties. TV fans around the world have loved the ITV series for years, with all episodes now being available to stream on Netflix too, but the final movie is set to come with a lot of twist and turns, including the absence of one much-loved character played by actor Matthew Goode.

Earlier this year, Goode confirmed that he will not appear in the final Downton Abbey film due to scheduling conflicts and a knee operation; however, he recently also disclosed further information about what his character's role would have been in the film. Speaking with Deadline, Goode uncovered that his character Henry was only given "a half-a-page scene", so would never have fitted heavily into the plot anyway.

At the time, Goode admitted he spoke with Lady Mary star Michelle Dockery "at length" about how the scene could play out, and that they were "going to try and ask for a slight rewrite." He added that "eventually it was just that [the film was] moving ahead" without him.

Henry would have featured during the "big racecourse day" sequence, which is included in the trailer for the film. Even though he previously confessed he thought his character was "becoming a bit of a wet lettuce", he admitted it's "a shame" the scheduling couldn't work out as he really "loved" working with the cast.

Goode has since clarified his comments calling Henry a "wet lettuce", explaining his words weren't intended to be expressed "in a horribly derogatory way." None the less, over on Reddit, fans have been quick to support the actor in his new ventures, especially since he had such a big hit starring in Netflix's Dept Q this year.

One person said: "People can't expect him to drop other projects where he's actually given material to work with in favour of DA where they don't give him much at all."

Another wrote: "Feels like actor Goode did what the writers allowed the character to be. Scheduling conflicts for filming must be problematic for in-demand actors."

A third replied: "Never was a fan of his character, but I always found his interviews fun, and enjoyed his other work. Will be checking out this new detective series."

Meanwhile, a fourth also commented: "Mary and Henry’s relationship felt forced since the beginning. The fact that we need Tom and Edith to remind us that Mary and Henry were meant to be together already showed that their relationship was rushed at the end of the series. If Mary had to get married then Charles Blake should have been a better choice."

Ahead of the world premiere in London, some lucky people caught an early screening in Los Angeles and shared their first reactions on social media. And, by the sounds of it, Downton Abbey 3 is a great send-off for fans full of laughs and tears, but there is doubt that this is really the end of the road for the Crawleys.

One person said: "Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is everything I hoped for. It's an elegant, emotional, and perfect sendoff.

"Not a dry eye in the theatre. Thank you for this unforgettable journey. It's a bittersweet goodbye… or maybe a new beginning? One can only hope."

Another also added: "What a farewell! Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is pure elegance full of drama, laughter, tears and everything in between. Thank you for this unforgettable journey. If this is goodbye, it was a perfect one."

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale hits UK cinemas on September 12, 2025.