Dan Stevens Is REALLY Over Downton Abbey By Amanda Dobbins (VULTURE)

At a party to “promote British tourism” yesterday, Dan Stevens (a.k.a. Matthew Crawley) was asked a question about his recent Downton departure — which makes sense, since the show is a major cultural export and also because Dan Stevens is only famous because of Downton Abbey. His response? “It's nice that people care, I suppose, about the show, but yeah, you know ... I had to do what I had to do.” Oh. Well, then, maybe he’d like to comment on his recent change in appearance, since it caused such an Internet stir? “Really? OK, I suppose. There's so much else going on in the world.”

READ MORE: http://www.vulture.com/2013/03/dan-stevens-is-really-over-downton-abbey.html

Ewan McGregor Joins 'Snowtown' Director Justin Kurzel's John Le Carré Adaptation 'Our Kind Of Traitor' NEWS BY KEVIN JAGERNAUTH JANUARY 17, 2013 9:40 PM (INDIEWIRE)

First announced last spring, "The Snowtown Murders" director Justin Kurzel's adaptation of John Le Carré's "Our Kind Of Traitor" has been moving slowly. There was a brief flick of life in November when it was reported that Mads Mikkelsen, Ralph Fiennes and Jessica Chastain were rumored for roles. But now it seems the first actor has come aboard, and it's none of those names.

According to the usually plugged-in Baz Bamigboye, Ewan McGregor has joined the picture in an unspecified lead role. The film, penned by Hossein Amini ("Drive," "Snow White and the Huntsman"), follows an English couple who get mixed up with a Russian businessman who turns out to be an oligarch, and one of the world's biggest money launderers. They get caught up in his plans to defect and are soon positioned between the Russian Mafia and the British Secret Service, neither of whom they can trust. We presume McGregor is one half of the English couple.

READ MORE: http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/ewan-mcgregor-joins-snowtown-director-justin-kurzels-john-le-carre-adaptation-our-kind-of-traitor-20130117