ONCE UPON A TIME Receives A Season 7 Renewal, Days After Jennifer Morrison Departs The Series
Hot on the heels of the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season five news, ABC has also officially announced a season seven renewal for their hit fantasy drama show, Once Upon A Time. Come take a look!
ABC was pretty busy last night, announcing pickups and cancellations for a number of their hit bubble shows, including Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. which was fortunate enough to receive a fifth season renewal.
The network also officially renewed their long-running hit fantasy series Once Upon A Time for a seventh season, which is expected to be a soft reboot of sorts for the entire series, swapping out some of the older characters for fresher faces. Andrew J. West (The Walking Dead) and Alison Fernandez (Jane the Virgin) will topline these newcomers and are both expected to make their debuts in this Sunday's two-part sixth season finale before transitioning to series regulars next season.
The show was always expected to return for another year, but after Jennifer Morrison's surprising announcement earlier this week to move on from the series after six seasons, things were looking a bit murky for the show's future. With this announcement, it now looks like the network wasn't particularly deterred by her decision and are seemingly quite confident about potentially breathing new life into the long-running series with this upcoming storyline.
As for the rest of the principal cast, Lana Parrilla, Colin O'Donoghue, and Robert Carlyle are all expected to return as series regulars. The jury, however, still remains out on Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Dallas, Emilie de Ravin, Jared S. Gilmore, and Rebecca Mader, although it wouldn't be a stretch to assume that some combination, if not all, of the five stars will return in some capacity.
As I reached the end of my 6 year contract on ONCE UPON A TIME, I was faced with a significant decision. ABC, Eddy Kitsis, and Adam Horowitz very generously invited me to continue as a series regular. After very careful consideration, I have decided that creatively and personally, it is time for me to move on. Emma Swan is one my favorite characters that I have ever played. My 6 years on ONCE UPON A TIME has changed my life in the most beautiful ways. I am absolutely blown away by the passion and commitment of the Oncer fans. I am so honored to have been a central part of such a special show. I will be forever grateful to Adam, Eddy, and ABC for giving me the gift of playing Emma Swan. As I move on to other creative endeavors, I will continue to attend the fan conventions whenever my professional schedule allows. I always look forward meeting the fans. If ABC Network does in fact order a season 7, I have agreed to appear in one episode, and I will most certainly continue to watch ONCE UPON A TIME. The creativity of the show runners has always inspired me, and I cannot wait to see the ways that they continue to develop and reinvent the show. #Onceuponatime #EmmaSwan #UglyDucklings
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UPDATE: Rebecca Mader will also not be returning next season.
To my Darling Pretties, First of all I would like to start by congratulating Adam, Eddie, Lana, Bobby and Colin on the pick up of Once Upon A Time! I am truly happy for you all and most importantly for the fans that will get to keep tuning in each week to see where they will take us. A lot of you have been asking if I will be joining everyone in Season 7, so I wanted to let you know personally that unfortunately I am not. This wasn't my choice but a creative decision of the shows that I totally respect and understand. The most important thing is that you all know how much you mean to me. I am told frequently both online and in person that by being a part of such a special show I have in some way changed someone's life. This is hugely meaningful to me. I am here to let you know that I am the one who has been changed. Not just by playing such a well written multi-dimensional character but by the fandom itself. I have heard your stories, your pain, your struggles, your achievements and I have truly felt you. I have learned. I have grown. I am a better person because of you, the fans and everyone that blessed me with this opportunity to play such an iconic role. Congrats all and thank you! I look forward to the next. I invite you to come with me on this journey. I am forever changed. And I'm wicked. And Wicked Always Wins. Forever yours, Bex 💚
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THE BLACK FAIRY'S CURSE LANDS OUR HEROES IN FAIRY TALE LAND WITH LITTLE HOPE OF RETURNING HOME, AND EMMA IS IN THE FIGHT OF HER LIFE, ON THE SEASON FINALE OF ABC'S 'ONCE UPON A TIME'
"The Final Battle Part 1 & 2" - Henry awakens to a cursed Storybrooke and discovers Emma has been in the mental hospital, and the Black Fairy is the new mayor. Henry attempts to help Emma regain her memory while Gold tries to find out what has really happened to Belle. Meanwhile, Snow, Charming, Regina, Zelena and Hook are trapped in a crumbling Fairy Tale Land and desperately try to figure out a way to be reunited with Emma and Henry, on season finale of "Once Upon a Time," SUNDAY, MAY 14 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network.
Welcome to Storybrooke, a small town in Maine that you won't find on any map. This town is full of magic, populated by fairytale characters once cursed by the Evil Queen Regina to live in our world - deprived of their memories and happy endings. Until Emma Swan came to town and changed everything. With the help of her son, Henry, Emma embraced her true identity as the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming - the Savior destined to break the Curse. But even after returning everyone's memories, Emma's mission was far from over. With the Curse broken, Mr. Gold (aka Rumplestiltskin) was free to bring magic to Storybrooke. And magic ALWAYS comes with a price...
Once Upon A Time features:
Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White/Mary Margaret Blanchard
Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan
Lana Parrilla as Evil Queen/Regina Mills
Josh Dallas as Prince Charming/David Nolan
Emilie de Ravin as Belle/Belle French
Colin O'Donoghue as Captain Hook/Killian Jones
Jared S. Gilmore as Henry Mills
Rebecca Mader as Wicked Witch of the West/Zelena
Robert Carlyle as Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold
Once Upon A Time returns with an all-new episode May 14