From Downton heir... to Guardian hack? Matthew Crawley actor Dan Stevens set for big Hollywood break as journalist in Wikileaks biopic

He will star alongside Benedict Cumberbatch who will play the lead role
His character, called Ian, is based on Guardian deputy editor Ian Katz
Steven Spielberg's film studio has struck a rights deal with The Guardian
It has bought the rights of two biographies of whistleblower Julian Assange

PUBLISHED: 20:09 EST, 29 December 2012 | UPDATED: 20:39 EST, 29 December 2012

New role: Dan Stevens is to play a Guardian journalist in an upcoming film

The death of dashing Matthew Crawley broke the hearts of millions of Downton Abbey fans on Christmas Day.

But Dan Stevens, the actor who played him, already has his next job lined up – playing a Guardian journalist in a new Hollywood film about WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

He will appear alongside his friend Benedict Cumberbatch, of Sherlock fame, who has landed the lead role of the controversial whistleblower.

Stevens, who is currently on Broadway in the play The Heiress, told The Mail on Sunday in New York that ‘we’re in negotiations’ about the movie.

Assange had a turbulent relationship with The Guardian when they collaborated over the release of 250,000 secret US diplomatic cables last year.

Stevens’s character, who is called Ian, is based on Guardian deputy editor Ian Katz.

Steven Spielberg’s Dreamworks Studio, which is making the film, has struck a rights deal with The Guardian, although a spokesman insisted that neither Katz nor editor Alan Rusbridger had personally benefited from the arrangement.

Filming will take place next year – at the same time as the fourth series of Downton is shot, which may explain why Stevens had to quit the ITV period drama. He has previously said: ‘There are some very exciting opportunities. Downton was a very monopolising job. I haven’t done as many films as I would have liked.’

Swedish beauty Alicia Vikander, 24, has also signed up for the film, which may be called The Man Who Sold The World.

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It is not being made with the blessing of WikiLeaks.

But the studio has bought up the rights to two biographies of Assange – one by former WikiLeaks spokesman Daniel Domscheit-Berg and another by Guardian journalists David Leigh and Luke Harding.

The studio behind the film has bought the rights to two biographies of Julian Assange (pictured) who is currently hold up in the Ecuadorian embassy

Monopolising: Dan Stevens said that his role in Downton Abbey (cast pictured) did not allow him to do as many films as he would have liked

All of the authors have fallen out with Assange, who is currently holed up in Ecuadorian Embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden to face sexual assault charges.

WikiLeaks spokesman Kristinn Hrafnsson said: ‘If the film reflects what is written in those books, it will provide a negative view of WikiLeaks with limited impartiality. Hollywood is not exactly the best reflection of contemporary history.

‘I don’t believe WikiLeaks or Julian has been contacted by Dreamworks, but I don’t expect any courtesy from any organisation within Hollywood.’

Last year, at least five film versions of the WikiLeaks story were said to be in development.

And if you thought seducing Branson was beyond the pale, wait till you see Edna the maid's next role

In the Downton Christmas episode she played Edna, a flirtatious housemaid whose clumsy attempt to seduce a topless Tom Branson, the former chauffeur who has married into the Crawley family, led to her being dismissed from service.

But such antics are tame compared with what MyAnna Buring gets up to in BBC1 crime drama Ripper Street, which begins tonight.

Set in 1889 in the aftermath of the Jack the Ripper murders, it stars the Swedish-born actress, 28 – who played a vampire in two of the Twilight films – as Long Susan, a feisty brothel-keeper who is on the run from the law in America.

Scarlet woman: MyAnna Buring with Charlene McKenna (left) in Ripper Street

Clumsy: MyAnna Buring played Edna, a flirtatious housemaide whose attempt to seduce a topless Tom Brason, led to her being dismissed from service

Susan and her ex-lover Homer Jackson, a renegade former US Army surgeon (Adam Rothenberg), have a tempestuous relationship and are forever arguing.

The situation isn’t helped by the fact that Jackson, a drunk and a gambler, is now sleeping with Rose, a prostitute played by Charlene McKenna.

Viewers first see Buring’s character as she watches through a peephole as Jackson makes love to Rose.

In another risque storyline, Jackson discovers Susan has hired out Rose to a man who may be a murderer.

Death won't damage my show, insists writer

Downton Abbey will thrive despite the controversial death of Matthew Crawley, the show’s writer Julian Fellowes has insisted.

Lord Fellowes said the character’s demise shortly after he had become a father would mean a pivotal role for his widow Lady Mary in the fourth series of the ITV drama next year.

‘Mary is back on her own, establishing her rights as the guardian of her baby son, fighting to get the estate through the dark days of the Twenties, struggling to re-find her own life,’ said Lord Fellowes.

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He's an ok telly actor who has had the good luck of a hit show. Why do they always think they're a bigger star than we the audience do? I don't think he'll make it bigger than Downton Abbey.

- ABC08 , Asia, 31/12/2012 20:36

Click to rate Rating 3

I think Dan made a mistake by leaving Downton Abbey too soon. Should have stayed long enough to finish a good story line at least. I think he will be far more successful doing DA than getting involved in American movies. I also wish they would quit killing people off -- getting too morbid.

- Sam , Atlanta, 31/12/2012 18:19

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I wish there had at least been a spoiler alert. I knew Dan was leaving, but didn't know how until I read the first paragraph of this article. Yes, I know this is a British website...that's why I read it. However, I'm pretty sure that DM wants to cultivate and maintain its readers from other countries. When I access the site from the US, there is always a lot of advertisements aimed at US readers.

- VAL , Williamsburg VA USA, United States, 31/12/2012 17:47

Click to rate Rating 3

Can't wait to see that film! An interesting storyline. I'll watch it :) I didn't get to watch Ripper Street so I may catch up on that. Tbh, S4 will only work out IF it's about Mary/baby. The other stories are now too trivial to endure IMO. Sad JF still chose S4 after knowing Dan would leave, it could have ended happily with the originally planned 3 sreies. But as it is going to continue, Mary being a fierce mummy bear to their baby will be very touching to watch.

- Rosaline , London, 31/12/2012 13:31

Click to rate Rating 2

Well maybe the Turk diplomat can come back from the dead in season four! Now he was the hottest ever!! ;) x

- hs808 , Oxford, United Kingdom, 31/12/2012 08:56

Click to rate Rating 3

So Dan leaves a show that is seen in 100 countries for a movie about Wikileaks that NO American has ANY interest in, kind of like "Vamps." I could understand Dan leaving if it was for a major role in a movie like "The King's Speech," etc. As an American I already saw Series 3, but they reran the Series 2 2011 Christmas special tonight on PBS in USA. It was so sad to see Matthew get down on his knee and propose in the snow. Tears. I wonder if Dan would have stayed had he been nominated for Emmys like Michelle Dockery. Appalling that Elizabeth McGovern was nominated before (and even Bates and Carson), but not Dan. I thought he was excellent in Series 1 and 2, not so much in 3 though. TEN people have died in only 3 seasons and it's ridiculous: James and Patrick Crawley, Kemal, Cora's baby boy, William, Vera Bates, Lavinia and Reggie Swire, Sybil, Matthew. I remember already back in Series 2, Matthew told Mary at Lavinia's grave, "You and I are cursed." DA is PERMANENTLY ruined.

- Carl Mape , Los Angeles, United States, 31/12/2012 08:13

Click to rate Rating 7

No one will go to that movie.

- Marion , Boston, 31/12/2012 07:48

Click to rate Rating 9

i love how this guy left a sure thing to think hes gonna be some huge hollywood actor. hes no pitt or depp sorry dude stay in the uk.

- american badazz , k.c. usa, 31/12/2012 07:41

Click to rate Rating 6

Bring back Iain Glen for Mary!

- SALLYFARRAR , PORT WARWICK, United States, 31/12/2012 04:06

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I'm so sorry that I read this article. Now the entire 4th season is ruined for me!!!! I wish DM would have some consideration for their US readers. - mickie4 , coatesville, 30/12/2012 17:11 Because it's a British Newspaper, they can't wait for you to play catch up, that wouldn't be fair to us and vice versa. I don't know why they can't air it quicker because we get 'Homeland' one week after you do, so it's possible. Just found this out mickie: 'Downton Abbey': PBS Considers Airing Season 4 Closer To U.K. Air Date.... It's the only logical thing to do given it's success, but i do have to wonder why PBS took so long arriving at this decision. So fingers crossed you might get it just after we do. I didn't realise you were so far behind until my sis in the US pointed it out to me. Dan's departure has been known for some time here and it spoilt it for us too, i think most hoped he would reconsider. Still, when Spielberg calls i guess you have to go. LOL

- cozmik , London, 30/12/2012 20:08

Click to rate Rating 7

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