Say it ain't so.

Worrying news for Downton Abbey fans today after it was reported that a beloved character will die in the upcoming film sequel. A Downton insider told The Sun that writer Julian Fellowes has "made this death so poignant". They added: "Those who have seen the scenes said they are so emotional. They really will leave fans in floods. It's heartbreak at Highclere Castle and they're won't be a dry eye in cinemas." While there is no indication as to who the iconic character is, fans are already theorising that it must be a someone pretty important, given the preamble. Some fear that the show's most iconic character, the Dowager Countess played by the indomitable Maggie Smith, could be at risk. Others who are in potentially in danger include Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) and Lady Mary Crawley (Michelle Dockery). The ITV period drama came to an end in 2015, after enjoying immense viewership for five years. Following on from the success of the TV show, a feature film was released in 2019. Since then, appetite for more Downton hasn't dwindled, and, as of last week, we have more details about the highly anticipated sequel. At CinemaCon, the title for the new film, as well as its release date was announced. The movie will be titled Downton Abbey: A New Era, and it will be in cinemas in March 2022. Last week saw also saw the release of the trailer, and we are already excited. It sees the Crawley family and the staff at Downton prepare for a journey overseas with Mr Carson saying: "The British are coming." On top of that, a wedding is expected to play a pretty big role, as two characters tie the knot, which may be the reason for oversees travel. As well as all our favourites reprising their roles, new additions to the cast include Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye and Dominic West.