Paul Giamatti to join Downton Abbey Season 4

The American invasion of Downton Abbey continues! One season after casting US actress Shirley MacLaine to play Cora’s modern American mother the producers of the critically acclaimed British drama have announced Shirley will be joined in Season 4 by Connecticut born actor Paul Giamatti, star of American Splendor, Sideways and HBO’s John Adams.

Giamatti will reportedly make his first appearance as Countess Cora’s “maverick, playboy brother Harold” in the two-hour Season 4 finale, an episode in which MacLaine is also expected to appear.

Gareth Neame, the managing director of Carnival Films, which co-produces the show, says “We’re excited that Paul Giamatti will be joining us on Downton to play Cora’s brother Harold, the rather free-spirited uncle to Mary and Edith.” Neame then adds, “We can’t wait to see him work alongside Shirley MacLaine, who are both sure to upset the Grantham’s apple cart in this year’s finale.”

Joining Giamatti as new cast members for Downton Abbey Season 4 (I won’t even talk about the gut-punching twist at the end of Season 3!) will be Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Nigel Harman, Tom Cullen, Julian Ovenden, Joanna David and Gary Carr.

In stark contrast to the aristocratic atmosphere of Downton Abbey, Giamatti is currently working on Amazing Spider-Man 2, in which he will play the villain Rhino. (Click here for photos of Giamatti from the ASM2 set that are almost as amazing as the one of the Dowager Count above!)