'Downton Abbey' Season 6 photo sparks fan frenzy over missing characters

"Downton Abbey" will be back for a sixth and final season — but whether all of the characters return was a hot topic of debate for fans, after a promo photo for the series' swan song emerged online Thursday.

The photo was posted on the series' official Twitter account bearing the message, "Welcome to #Series6 of #Downton Abbey."

Commenters were quick to note a few key omissions in the ensemble image.

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"WHERE IS TOM BRANSON? OH NO I'M GONNA CRY," one fan replied.

Another tweeted, "@DowntonAbbey no Lady Rose? :("

"Where are Tom & Sybbie?!?!??? BOOO," a third dissatisfied customer tweeted.

If it's any consolation to Tom Branson fans, Allen Leech, the actor who plays the character, has said he will appear in at least one scene in the upcoming season.

According to ITV, which airs the program in the United Kingdom, a number of cast members revealed during a recent screening that it was an emotional experience filming the final scenes. The season will premiere this fall on ITV, and is expected to begin in January on PBS in the United States.

During a panel discussion for the series in Beverly Hills attended by TheWrap on June 6, a brief teaser for the final season was screened, depicting Lady Edith Crawley (Laura Carmichael) pondering her future. "The fact is, I'd like a life," she tells her aunt, Lady Rosamund Painswick (Samantha Bond).

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During the Q&A portion of the June discussion, the show's creator and writer, Julian Fellowes, said "Downton Abbey's" creative team never expected it to go on for more than a few years.