Readers, we know that it’s a little late on a Friday to drop such major news in your laps, but it simply can’t be avoided. Michael Ausiello at TVLine is exclusively reporting that while the majority of the Downton Abbey cast has signed on for the fourth and fifth seasons of the show (!!!), there are apparently a few major holdouts: namely Dan Stevens (Matthew), Siobhan Finneran (O’Brien), and Jessica Brown Findlay (Lady Sybil).
“The cast’s original pacts carried them through the currently-in-production Season 3 (slated to air stateside in January 2013),” explains Ausiello. “The new contracts were inked despite the fact that Abbey has yet to be officially renewed beyond Season 3.” So technically it’s still way too early for us to be worried about anyone jumping ship, right? Because in all honestly, can you imagine the show going on without Captain Crawley? Lady Mary would be simply heartbroken!