Speaking to Radio Times magazine in next week's issue ahead of the release of Netflix's Department Q, the actor was asked why he wasn't in the second film and isn't billed as being in the third.
"That takes weeks to get over, so I was never going to be able to do it. And let’s face it, he was edging towards becoming a bit of a wet lettuce. So maybe it’s a good thing."
Throughout his time in the franchise, he married Mary (Michelle Dockery) and the pair had their happily-ever-after – but we're left to fill that in for ourselves, seeing as Goode hasn't featured in the most recent film.
Based on the series of 10 novels by Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen, the synopsis for the new drama reads: "DCI Carl Morck is a brilliant cop but a terrible colleague.
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Michael J Fox to make acting return in Apple TV+'s Shrinking season 3Coronation Street's Charlie Condou open to return more than 10 years after exit"So, when the stone-cold trail of a prominent civil servant who disappeared several years ago starts to heat up, Carl is back doing what he does best – rattling cages and refusing to take no for an answer."
Returning alongside Dockery for the new film are Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Phyllis Logan, Robert James-Collier, Joanne Froggatt, Allen Leech, Penelope Wilton and Lesley Nicol.
Other returning stars include Michael Fox, Raquel Cassidy, Brendan Coyle, Kevin Doyle, Harry Hadden-Paton, Sophie McShera, Douglas Reith and Dominic West. New additions for the film include Paul Giamatti, Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola, Simon Russell Beale and Arty Froushan.
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