Question: Do you have any scoop about the Downton Abbey movie that might be happening? Is there actually anything concrete? —Kristen
Ausiello: Someone has misled you, Kristen. A Downton Abbey movie is not happening.
Question: I’m still waiting for the Mary/Edith twist that Downton Abbey‘s Michelle Dockery told you guys she “wasn’t expecting.” Any idea when that’s coming? I’m a little obsessed over here if you can’t tell. – Madeleine
Ausiello: First things first, Maddie: Take a nice, long, deep breath. Feel better? Good, because your wish will be granted on Sunday when the sisters’ long-running feud comes to a boil, resulting in “the row we all knew was coming.” (Those are Edith’s words, not mine.) Both Michelle Dockery and Laura Carmichael turn in powerful performances; it’s a real treat for fans who have watched their characters’ relationship develop (or not) over the years. Of course, that’s just one huge moment from the series’ penultimate episode. It’s a big one.
Question: I was wondering if you have any new Downton Abbey scoop. —Kristen
Ausiello: I do! Michelle Dockery tells us that Mary will be in “business mode” when the sixth and final season bows in January, adding that her perpetually messy “romantic life” takes a backseat, initially. “She’s taken on the role of the estate agent because Branson’s left, so she’s a working girl. She’s not really actively looking for anyone.” Well, not until Matthew Goode’s Henry Talbot re-enters the picture. “He comes back into her life [and] it’s complicated as it always is,” Dockery shares. “It’s never plain sailing in her love life.”
Question: First and foremost, I love Matthew Goode on The Good Wife. But I also rather enjoyed him in Downton Abbey‘s Christmas special. Could you shed light on the potential of him being on one or both shows? —Jessica
Ausiello: He will almost certainly be in the final season of Abbey. His future on The Good Wife beyond Season 6 is less certain, although exec producer Michelle King recently hinted to us that Goode might end up juggling the two. “There’s always a dance with scheduling,” she said, “so [we can always] dance around Downton Abbey.”
Question: Has it been confirmed that The Good Wife is ending at the conclusion of Season 7? —Jason
Ausiello: The Kings always viewed Wife as a seven-season saga, but the ultimate decision isn’t up to them, as Robert King reminds us. “It’s a big question mark, because it’s a question that’s beyond us,” he says. “It’s… CBS.” He notes that viewers can probably sense that “we’re counting down” via the episode titles, but adds, “That doesn’t mean an end is an end.”
Question: There are rumors going around that the sixth season of Downton Abbey will be its last. Do you have any concrete scoop on this? —Kristen
Ausiello: The actors’ contracts expire at the end of Season 6 and, save for one or two possible exceptions, they want outta there (with Maggie Smith leading the charge). So, short of them being offered $1 million an episode, the show’s done after one more “series” (as they say across the pond).
Will Sarah Bunting return for season five of Downton Abbey? — Tonya
Yes, Sarah Bunting (Daisy Lewis) will play a larger role in the upcoming fifth season. “She creates quite a lot of crisis for [Tom] Branson,” creator Julian Fellowes tells my colleague C. Molly Smith. Not being a Downton follower myself, Molly offers up her best guess as to what the “crisis” is: “It has to do with politics, the foundation of Tom and Sarah’s connection,” she says. “But, I wouldn’t rule out romance either. The two share said common interest, and Tom just might be ready to find new love.”
Alyssa: I'll take any scoop you've got on Downton Abbey!
Times, they are a-changin'! "Downton is in probably the biggest period of change ever—the new kind of world and the ways of the world are very much going to be entrenched in Downton and it's about how it feels with that," star Allan Leech told us. "You know for the younger generation it's much easier, but for the older generations and the staff and the servants it's a very different world…So it's about people trying to find their feet, how to maneuver and how to navigate this crazy new world…And you see a lot more of the London life…there are so many unanswered questions that get answered this year."
Question: Heard a rumor that Matthew Goode is going to be on the Christmas episode of Downton Abbey. Is he staying on for Season 6 — and, if so — does that mean he’s leaving The Good Wife?! Say it ain’t so! —Evelyn
Ausiello: While it’s true Goode will appear in Downton‘s annual Xmas episode — aka the Season 5 finale — it’s my understanding that, as of now, it was just a one-off guest stint. But I hear Abbey producers are interested in having him back for Season 6 in some capacity. His Good Wife gig is in first position, which, loosely translated, means if The Good Wife picks up his contract option for Season 7, he pretty much has to return to The Good Wife. (BTW, buzz that he’s playing a love interest for Lady Mary on Downton is apparently true. Girlfriend’s dance card overfloweth!)
Christina: Got any Downton Abbey spoilers to share, maybe about Lady Mary?
Let's just say season five could easily be subtitled "How Lady Mary Got Her Groove Back." "She's very much out of mourning by series five. For me, it's like a new Mary," Michelle Dockery previews. "She's got her spirit back…she's got her bite back." And yes, that includes her romantic bite. But it will be a slow-burn, as Dockery says Lady Mary is "giving herself time romantically with Gilliam and Blake. She's still not making any quick decisions."
Question: I’m still not over the death of Downton Abbey‘s Matthew. Please tell me we won’t be losing anyone else in Season 5! —Kate
Ausiello: You might want to sit down for this one, Kate. “No one’s safe,” executive producer Gareth Neame tells TVLine — rather bluntly — about the PBS drama’s fifth season, which premieres Stateside on Jan. 4. “We’ve lost so many key characters already. Although the show’s only been on for four years, we’ve actually covered 10 to 12 years, so it’s reasonable that within any family, there’d be deaths in that timeframe.” (In other words, have your funeral attire ready, just in case.)
Elisabeth: I'm one of those people who didn't sneakily watch Downton Abbey when it aired in the UK, but I'm so curious about the finale on Sunday, Feb. 23. I don't want to ruin the whole episode…help me?
But of course. The Americans returns to Downton Abbey: Shirley MacClaine and Paul Giamatti guest star as the Downton gang takes on London. But they might not be going back to the States alone! Will one of the downstairs staff hop across the pond? Yes, but not who you expect. Plus, the Edith baby drama takes a new turn.
When it comes to Downton Abbey, I'm on Team Downstairs! Now that Alfred got accepted to the culinary school at the Ritz, is that love triangle with Ivy and Daisy done? — Sarina
Daisy still carries a torch for the ginger-haired former footman, and his absence doesn't necessarily make it easier for her to get along with Ivy. Daisy will soon catch somebody's eye, though, and each girl will have to make a major decision that could change their lives forever after receiving two very promising proposals. I'll just say this: By the end of the season, somebody could be packing their bags.
Alex: I like to wait to watch Downton Abbey when it's on PBS here in the U.S. I know there are spoilers out there, but I don't want to be fully spoiled. Scoop, please?
Since you asked so nicely, here's a juicy one: Somebody's pregnant. Also, pigs are coming! That is all.
Will there be a wedding on Downton Abbey this season? — Ellen
Would it surprise you to learn that three Downton ladies will receive marriage proposals this season? Well, maybe not, since people love to propose on this show. Making it down the aisle, however, is another matter altogether. In possibly related news, Downton's first black character will make his debut next week.
Brit broadcaster ITV has ordered a fifth season of the international phenom, to bow next fall in the UK and (presumably and unfortunately) January 2015 in the US on PBS.
Downton Abbey‘s fourth season bows stateside on Jan. 5 at 9/8c.
Any chance we’re going to get to SEE Dan Stevens on The Tomorrow People? (I miss Matthew!) — Alicia
No plans now, according to Tomorrow People EP Phil Klemmer, but Klemmer says he does recognize how lucky they were to snag Stevens to voice biological computer TIM. “It’s super super cool because usually when a guy leaves one of the most like cherished shows on television, it doesn’t mean that he’s going to land in your lap, but he was just such a nice guy and I had such a good time talking with him” he says. “I was a little intimidated to pitch cousin Matthew on one knee to come play a talking computer, but he was totally charmed by the idea…now the big trick will be how to find out how we can come get him to do a cameo.” Klemmer even has some ideas! While the original series never showed the human being behind TIM (then voiced by Philip Gilbert), Klemmer says with a laugh, “I think Dan Stevens deserves his own flashback story we can find out how he got turned into a computer.”
SANDRA! Any scoop on Downton Abbey? I’ve promised myself I wouldn’t bootleg but would love some teases. — Erika
Could having Matthew dead be even BETTER than watching him and Mary alive? Maybe not in fans’ opinions. But creator Julian Fellowes certainly thinks it packs a punch. “To be honest dramatizing Mary rebuilding herself is more interesting than just two people being happy,” he told us at EW’s pre-Emmy bash. “It will be interesting to see how the Americans take to the way we dealt with that, but I think it’s strong [season].” Now, if only we could see it AT THE SAME TIME AS THE UK. This is the last time I’ll rant about this. Probably.
Question: Any chance of a Downton Abbey-Sons of Anarchy crossover? —Gregg
Ausiello: In Ask Ausiello? I suppose I can work both shows into this answer. Odd request, but I’m game. On the SOA front, Theo Rossi hints that the pummeling Juice took from Chibs in the opener will have “tremendous” consequences. “I think the beating snapped him,” Rossi adds of his character. “He snapped… Juice wants to do everything he can to get back that family that he had. Right now his belief is [he can achieve that by becoming] more violent… How this all goes down is amazing and I’m really excited for it.” Moving on to Downton, Jim Carter assured me on the Emmys red carpet Sunday that Season 4 will be far less deadly than Season 3. In fact, “I don’t think there are any deaths this season,” he said. “You can settle back and relax — there are going to be no funerals this year.”
Question: Please tell me we won’t have to endure another significant loss on Downton Abbey this season. I’ve had enough loss! —Christy
Ausiello: So has Michelle Dockery. In fact, Abbey‘s leading lady doesn’t think the show can sustain another major departure (which leads me to believe there won’t be one anytime soon). “It has to remain as the ensemble, otherwise I don’t think we can keep going,” she tells TVLine. “The core reason for the show’s success is that it’s a huge ensemble of such great characters. It was [one thing to lose] Sybil and Matthew. But any more of that, I think it will start to falter.”
Alyssa: Thanks for the Downton interviews! I hate how long we have to wait. Spoilers would be much appreciated.
How about some new season-four photos? This one with Mary holding the new baby actually tells you a lot about the new season. Mary will be struggling with Matthew's death, especially since every time she looks at the baby, she sees her beloved. So her eyes won't exactly be all over her offspring. And yes, there will be many suitors for Mary, and all we can say about that at this point is to reveal two words Michelle Dockery told us recently regarding her storyline: "birthday surprise."
