Shameless producer John Wells dropped a casting bombshell last night at a TV Academy Emmy panel: Justin Chatwin is leaving the Showtime series.

Last seen being walked toward the water by a drug lord-related thug, Wells also confirmed at the event (via a Tweet by TV Guide Magazine's Rob Moynihan) that Justin was, in fact, killed at the conclusion of Season 3.

Chatwin has portrayed Fiona's love interest since the pilot of this cable hit. Will he death make you more or less likely to tune in when Season 4 premiere?

No premiere date has been announced, but new episodes are expected to start airing in January.

UPDATE: Wells actually said it's possible Jimmy did NOT die in the aforementioned scene, something a Showtime statement echoes. The network says that Chatwin "will not be coming back as a series regular, but there is a possibility of him coming back in future episodes in some manner."

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.