Downton Abbey movie: Is Matthew Crawley returning? Startling news hints at his U-turn

Downton Abbey fans will remember the devastating blow which was dealt by the show’s producers on Christmas Day 2016. In the finale of Series Three, Matthew Crawley’s car crashed, leaving pregnant Mary without a husband and her child without a father. But exclusive stats to Express.co.uk showing he’s the most popular character could prompt Dan Stevens to park his Hollywood career for a while.

Is Matthew Crawley returning?

In data released exclusively to the Express by SEMrush, Matthew Crawley is still alive in the hearts of Downton Abbey fans, as he is the most Googled character of all.

This still firmly places him as the favourite Downton Abbey character, meaning fan pressure could see his return to Downton.

According to SEMrush, he receives on average 1,506 Google searches in the UK, 5,996 in the USA and 14,858 globally per month, meaning his is still as – if not more – important than some of the remaining cast.

Dan Stevens’ character not only remains the nation’s favourite, but is the most sought-after on screens, according to the data, and there is no doubt fans are trying to keep the (original) heir to the Downton estate’s memory alive.

The character’s impact doesn’t just linger within the walls of the Abbey, as searches for Mr Crawley have actually spiked in the last month ahead of the film’s release.

Searches for Matthew’s return have gone up by 84 per cent between July and August this year in the UK, and 25 per cent globally – as fans refresh their memories before the drama’s big screen debut.

He does have some competition, however, as Mary’s new squeeze Henry Talbot, played by Matthew Goode, is the second most Googled in the UK, averaging 1,361 monthly Google searches, while Mary herself, played by Michelle Dockery, gets around 1,333 monthly Google searches.

Mary and Henry are in the medal positions in the USA as well, with Mary getting 5,550 monthly searches and Henry 3,938 average monthly searches.

Globally, both are just behind Matthew with an average of 12,272 monthly Google searches for Mary, and 11,142 for Henry.

Other popular characters in the Top 10 include Mary’s sisters, Edith (Laura Carmichael) and Sybil (Jessica Brown Findlay), the latter of whom died in childbirth.

Clearly fans are remembering the Downton Abbey moments of old, with two characters who have passed away still appearing as the most sought-after.

Sybil’s husband, Tom Branson (Allen Leech), appears in the Top 10 as well as downstairs servants Thomas Barrow (Rob James-Collier), John Bates (Brendan Coyle) and Anna Bates (Joanne Froggatt), while Dame Maggie Smith’s fierce Dowager Violet Crawley also makes the top spots.

In terms of the TV show, Dan Stevens has given no indication that he intends to return, and neither have the show’s producers, meaning this seems unlikely.

But with more fans searching his name, there’s always a possibility he might make a flashback appearance – if a Downton Abbey 2 ever makes it to the big screen.

When is the Downton Abbey film released in cinemas?

Downton Abbey is out in cinemas now, so fans can enjoy the exploits of the Crawley family while reminiscing about those who have passed.

The plot will follow the Crawleys as they and their servants prepare for a royal visit from George V (Simon Jones), Queen Mary (Geraldine James) and Princess Mary (Kate Phillips), though they bring with them a domineering butler (David Haig) and an arrogant chef (Phillipe Spall) to cause more trouble.

In order to ensure the visit goes off without a hitch, the family bring back retired butler Mr Carson (Jim Carter) to run things, while another visitor, Lady Maud Bagshaw (Imelda Staunton) promises to cause trouble with the Dowager.

Downton Abbey is in cinemas now