'Bridget Jones' 3rd Book Kills Off Mark Darcy, Outraging Fans

Fans of the "Bridget Jones" books are horrified that author Helen Fielding has killed off a main character in the upcoming third installment of the best-selling series.

Fielding first saw success with 1996's "Bridget Jones' Diary" and then again with "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" in 1999. In the last book, London's favorite fictional thirty-something was ready to settle down with barrister Mark Darcy.

Both novels were then turned into successful feature films starring Renee Zellweger and Colin Firth as Jones and Darcy.

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Now, in "Mad About The Boy," readers once again join Jones, who is now 51 and single after losing her husband five years earlier.

That's right — Mark Darcy is dead.

Fielding previewed Darcy's demise in an interview this week with the U.K.'s Sunday Times Magazine and Twitter immediately ignited with a rash of outraged reactions. 

Saw the news about the Bridget jones sequel, it comes out on my birthday and Mark Darcy is DEAD!!!! Awful news #birthdayruined

— Mairi Thomson (@mairitee) September 29, 2013

Let me get this straight... There's one nice guy in the world and he dies?! 😳🙈 #MrDarcy #BridgetJones

— Ashley James (@ashleyljames) September 30, 2013

Why does Mark Darcy have to die? Ahhh my life is over #BridgetJones

— Courtney (@odd_ball2401) September 30, 2013

If Mark Darcy is dead then I hate Helen Fielding forever. FOREVER.

— Rachel Handford (@RachelHandford) September 29, 2013

Mark Darcy has died in the new Bridget Jones, there is now no point to life

— Jodie Rogers (@jodierog) September 29, 2013

@immywelsford I couldn't hate you anymore right now I can't believe you told me mark Darcy is dead I hate u beyond words I will cut u

— Millie Warren (@milliewarren_) September 29, 2013

I don't want to live in a world where Mark Darcy and Bridget Jones aren't living happily ever after. Too far, Helen Fielding. Too far.

— purpleclaire (@purpleclaire) September 29, 2013

I need to call my therapist, or find a time machine where I can go back & unsee that Mark Darcy is dead #BridgetJones

— Havva Morgan (@HavvaMorgan) September 29, 2013

HELEN FIELDING WHAT THE HECK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING YOU CAN'T JUST KILL OFF MARK DARCY DO YOU WANT ME TO BE DEPRESSED FOR REST OF MY LIFE

— bonquisha sharice (@abbieareyouokay) September 29, 2013

Mark Darcy will always be alive in our hearts.

— Roxane Gay (@rgay) September 30, 2013

"Mad About The Boy" is due to be published Oct. 10.

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