Saturday, October 4, 2014

Matthew Macfadyen Ripper star is dying to quit

MAIL ON LINE
By CHARLOTTE GRIFFITHS FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY

Ready to Rip it up: Matthew Macfadyen as DI Edmund Reid on Ripper Street, far right, with Adam Rothenberg as Captain Homer Jackson and Jerome Flynn as Detective Sergeant Bennet Drake

Matthew Macfadyen is set to kill off his Ripper Street character – so he can become a house-husband.

With his wife Keeley Hawes filming a three-part TV adaptation of J. K. Rowling’s novel The Casual Vacancy, Matthew, 39, wants his role as Detective Inspector Edmund Reid in Ripper Street to end.

Friends say he will spend more time with the couple’s children – Maggie, ten, Ralph, eight, and Keeley’s 14-year-old son Myles.

A pal says: ‘Matthew asked producers for his character to be killed off. He’s leaving on amicable terms.

'He’s been away filming a lot and he and Keeley take their acting roles in turn so the other can look after the kids.’

Are you kidding me?


READ MORE HERE: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2780819/GIRL-ABOUT-TOWN-Rita-Ora-write-Burberry-song-help-fashion-brand-kids.html

22 comments:

Karen V. Wasylowski said...

I am disappointed in him. So many people went to such lengths to get this show back on the air. Why didn't he say something before? Keeley is getting the big roles now, which I never expected. She's turned into a fine actor, and he's just sitting on his hands. So much talent, but no ambition.

Unknown said...

I totally agree Karen. I was gobsmacked when I saw this. After all the campaigning and hard work to save Ripper Street and he's just going to leave! Very disappointed in him, as I'm sure his cast mates will be. They were all devestated at the start of the year when it was cancelled, I'm sure they'll love this new development.

Unknown said...

Maybe if they just have him missing or in a situation where he is believed dead but no one knows for sure- leaving it open ended with future possibilities.

Karen V. Wasylowski said...

His kids are probably big enough to wish dad would leave them alone! Sounds fishy

Natasha Shubrick said...

I admit to being devastated when I saw this item but now that I had time to digest this information I can now look at this objectively. The piece did NOT say he’s giving up acting, after all he just signed on to star in the Sky Living drama The Enfield Haunting. It is scheduled to air in 2015 and probably hasn’t begun filming yet. So I don’t agreement with the assessment that he has a lack of ambition. From what I gather the Daily Mail is not know for its accuracy, it’s also known as the Daily “Fail…so I’ll put more stock in this when a similar story is reported by other reliable media outlets. Really we won’t know if this is the gospel truth until we hear it directly from Matthew, Keeley, his representation OR someone officially associated with Ripper Street’s production. If there is a grain of truth to this story it would make more sense that he’s wants to be written out of future seasons because the filming of Season 3 has already wrapped and set to begin airing on UK Amazon Prime beginning next month and then BBC, BBC America and across the globe in 2015. If his character has not died or mysteriously vanished in the final episode, then this would refer to Season 4 (if it’s even been green lit) or beyond.

Natasha Shubrick said...

I admit to being devastated when I saw this item but now that I had time to digest this information I can now look at this objectively. The piece did NOT say he’s giving up acting, after all he just signed on to star in the Sky Living drama The Enfield Haunting. It is scheduled to air in 2015 and probably hasn’t begun filming yet. So I don’t agreement with the assessment that he has a lack of ambition. From what I gather the Daily Mail is not know for its accuracy, it’s also known as the Daily “Fail…so I’ll put more stock in this when a similar story is reported by other reliable media outlets. Really we won’t know if this is the gospel truth until we hear it directly from Matthew, Keeley, his representation OR someone officially associated with Ripper Street’s production. If there is a grain of truth to this story it would make more sense that he’s wants to be written out of future seasons because the filming of Season 3 has already wrapped and set to begin airing on UK Amazon Prime beginning next month and then BBC, BBC America and across the globe in 2015. If his character has not died or mysteriously vanished in the final episode, then this would refer to Season 4 (if it’s even been green lit) or beyond.

Petranef said...

And now that we've seen episode 4 of Series 3, it looks like he's done it.

I'm extremely disappointed. I feel that this is one of his best roles ever, and the show really hinges on the chemistry between the three leads. It won't be anywhere near as good if he's not there.

Is there any way we could very politely urge him to reconsider?

Karen V. Wasylowski said...

I don't think he really cares what we want. He seems to have little stamina to stick with things, spoiled, lazy...whatever. I am a hopeless throwback to neanderthal days, but Mr. Mom's always seem kind of like sissies to me, weak or 'pussy whipped' to be crude about it. If you're penniless and the wife is the only one that can find work - I can understand it. But these people are millionaires. He's using the kids and his wife as an excuse.

Petranef said...

It is rather sad, but he never seems to be passionate about the roles he takes, at least that he lets us see. Maybe he simply prefers the stage to everything else. He almost never smiles in publicity shots either. I mean, I get they're a nuisance, but it is part of the job.

In this case, I am so terribly upset, because of all the work and hope and tears the fans put in, and we got our Series 3 and it just doesn't seem to matter very much to the star of the show. :( He's giving up this incredible role to babysit???? I mean, really??? How many actors would kill to be the star of such a superlatively wonderful show?

I'm a big Firefly fan from way back, so this isn't the first cancellation-drama rodeo I've been to. Whenever we fans "get something back" from cancellation, it's like a zombie version - not the thing we desperately loved, but a limp, pallid imitation. I now wish the show had ended at Series 2, because then Reid would have lived and we could have been happy about that, at least. :(

Karen V. Wasylowski said...

Maybe there's more to it we don't know, but I think he's done this before. He doesn't seem very invested in his "career" and really wasted that big opening he had with Pride and Prejudice. To me, he just seems kind of lazy. He's not pushing to direct anything I don't think, and I don't hear about him going after great stage roles. We saw him in Perfect Nonsense and he was very good, but it was a juvenile play - not anything a real actor would consider stretching his abilities. He just needed to jump around a lot and wear a dress. I've can't think of any other actor who seems so bored by the job.

Petranef said...

I completely fail to understand him. Of all the interviews I've read, the only phrase that's stuck is "diffident big bear." He says that all he ever wanted to be was an actor, but then his actions seem to belie that statement. He really is a very talented person, but i just can't comprehend his lack of ambition or career-savvy.

If he lets the role of Reid go, then I am no longer a fan, and I am very deeply disappointed in him as an artist.

Karen V. Wasylowski said...

I agree. Now I think he just wanted to do these other projects and played the father card to try and avoid an uproar over the fact that so many had rallied to the show to save it and he was bailing out.

Karen V. Wasylowski said...

Frankly I don't fallow him any longer because in November I was attacked by at least two of his followers for reviewing his play Perfect Nonsense. My husband and I were in London and saw the play, which is cute, but hardly Noel Coward. I was disappointed that the other actor was ill and his understudy took over the Bertie Wooster role. Anyway, anonymous posters ( and two non anonymous) ripped me apart for even hinting that the play was not what I had hoped. Somw fan girls are vicious, so I keep away from them, and their 'idols'

Petranef said...

Well, in terms of RS, I guess we'll need to wait and see what happens. But it is very disappointing.

Of course, I didn't see that play, but I didn't much like the press about it, or the role, or that stupid haircut. But that's just my personal preference.

Ah, well, people on the Internet are being increasingly vicious these days. It's sad. Proper, civil discussions are few and far between. :( I'm sorry they targeted you, though.

Les Berkley said...

Come on, we read this stuff all the time. "Angelina Jolie is dying of malnutrition!" Followed a month later by, "Angelina Jolie is too fat for new role!"

Unknown said...

With regards to his decision, while it is disappointing and very sad, I would firstly take all reports like this with a big pinch of salt instead of believing everything that's written, and second, while a show might mean a lot to people, we will get over it and actors are people too. They have lives. They might have a career that revolves around people's entertainment, but they aren't slaves to our every whim. If he wants to spend time with his family, he's allowed. It's a job, not a prison sentence. I can see why people are upset, but calling him lazy and remarking that he doesn't care about his career (which he is very good at) is a bit harsh and over the top isn't it?

And for the record, I'm not a fangirl of his, just a regular human being who's a little disheartened at people's comments on a man they don't actually know.

Simon B said...

I think the show is strong enough without him to be honest - In many ways i've always thought he was the weakest link. It will be interesting to see if the Amazon experiment leads to another season.. i'm really enjoying season 3 and feel it has lots of opportunities to evolve.

Karen V. Wasylowski said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Karen V. Wasylowski said...

I guess the point I was making initially has evaporated. The only reason I became so angry with him is that several months ago an awful lot of fans of his and RS got together and everyone signed petitions and there was a really big internet/facebook/twitter effort to save Ripper Street (a great majority of them MM fans) Unprecedented. Impressive. Then we hear he wants to be killed off. Well, he might have mentioned that when those guys were working so hard for him (or at least they thought they were) To me it came off rather callous.

Annmarie said...

I'm surprised at the acerbity of the comments. How many women would be incredibly grateful for a husband who supports their goals. It sounds like they work in turn to make sure their children are always cared for. While one commenter said their children are old enough not to need them. They've got at least one teen. As a parent to two teenagers myself, they need you now more than ever. So many late night conversations take place that help shaper their minds and future. Those conversations won't take place on a regular basis unless you're there for them regularly.

It's quite self absorbed to think that his fans should come before his family. Though sad to see him go, I applaud his decision.

Karen V. Wasylowski said...

Well, obviously I screwed this up royally. Mr. Macfadyen is staying with the show, hopefully for the next two years. Perhaps those episodes where he was kind of off the map (when he was shot) was what he was referring to as being absent while Keely Hawes was filming. I apologize to Matthew. If I wasn't one of his biggest fans I would not have gone so nuts by the news.

Unknown said...

some of these comments are just horrible. here we have a couple of means, who could easily choose to farm their children out to nannys, but they DON'T.. they choose to raise their family themselves, and all people can do is complain and judge this man as a coward, lazy etc because he chose to step back and raise his children and allow his wife to work at something she loves. The fact they put family first, as well as each by taking turns doing what they love is what family is about. Many of you should be ashamed of yourselves and be looking at this family as an example of how parents should raise their children instead of belittling them because he will no longer be on your favorite show. Grow up people, get a life, and stop judging others.