Jennifer Morrison Not Returning To Once Upon a Time As Series Regular Next Season

Once Upon a Time original cast member Jennifer Morrison will not return as a series regular if the ABC show is renewed for a seventh season but will reprise her role as Emma Swan as a guest star.

Morrison, who announced her departure on Instagram, was one of four cast members approached by series producer ABC Studios about continuing on the show, which is being reimagined for next season, along with fellow original cast members Lana Parrilla (Regina) and Robert Carlyle (Mr. Gold) as well as Colin O’Donoghue (Hook), who has been a staple on the show since joining as a series regular in Season 2. The other three are expected to come back.

The contracts of the original Once cast are up at the end of the current season, so Parrilla and Carlyle need new deals while O’Donoghue has another year left on his. It would appear that Parrilla and Carlyle are close to new deals and the revamped Once is expected to center on Parrilla, Carlyle, O’Donoghue and The Walking Dead‘s Andrew J. West, who will debut in the upcoming Season 6 finale before joining as a series regular in Season 7.

While down in the ratings, Once remains an important series for ABC with strong Disney DNA and solid DVR and digital play. The current sixth season, in which the Evil Queen had been facing her alter ego, has been building toward the Final Battle between light and darkness, between the savior, Emma, and The Black Fairy.


Like this story? Follow Reel Talk Inc. on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for daily news and reviews, and sign up for our email newsletter here.

Podchaser - Reel Chronicles
About Gaius Bolling 3795 Articles
At the age of five, I knew I wanted to write movies and about them. I've set out to make those dreams come true. As an alumni of the Los Angeles Film Academy, I participated in their Screenwriting program, while building up my expertise in film criticism. I write reviews that relate to the average moviegoer by educating my readers and keeping it fun. My job is to let you know the good, the bad, and the ugly in the world of cinema, so you can have your best moviegoing experience. You can find more of my writing on Instagram @g_reelz.