Fulfilling rumors and fervent hopes, Shirley MacLaine will return for the fourth season of Downton Abbey, Deadline confirms.

That may make up for the loss of the Machiavellian maid, O’Brien.

The show’s creator, Julian Fellowes, recently signed to write and produce a new series for NBC called The Gilded Age, featuring the robber barons of 19th C New York City. It is being called, of course, “The American Downton.” Reportedly, Gwyneth Paltrow is being courted to star.

Fellowes made news in an NYT interview last  month by saying that, if the series goes forward, he would have to turn over the writing of Downton Abbey to others. The producers assured Deadline, however, that he has written all of the season four’s episodes.

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