Morrison, Goodwin, Dallas & Mader Leave 'Once Upon a Time'

The week of May 7, 2017, has been a turbulent week for Once Upon a Time fans.

On Thursday, May 11, series co-creator Adam Horowitz revealed on Twitter that the ABC fairy tale drama Once Upon a Time would be coming back for its seventh season.

“7. #OnceUponATime #ThankYouFansandABC.” Horowitz tweeted.

But, the show will not be the same as four actors critical to the Once Upon A Time community will not participate in the recently announced seventh season.

This past Monday, Oncers, the show’s passionate fan base, were shocked and saddened to learn that Jennifer Morrison, who portrays the show’s main heroine Emma Swan, will be departing from the series.

“After very careful consideration, I have decided that creatively and personally, it is time for me to move on.” Jennifer Morrison wrote on Instagram. “Emma Swan is one of my favorite characters that I have ever played. My six years on Once Upon a Time 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 part of such a special show.”

But, Jennifer Morrison is not the only one leaving the series.

Bye, Bye Zelena

The Hollywood Reporter stated that actors (and real-life couple) Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas, who portray Emma’s parents and iconic fairy tale couple Snow White and Prince Charming, are also expected to bow out from the series. Also, actress Rebecca Mader who portrays Regina (Lana Parrilla)'s half-sister: Zelena, the Wicked Witch of the West, also announced on Instagram that she would make her final bow on the show during Sunday’s finale.

“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.” Mader wrote. “This wasn’t my choice, but a creative decision of the show’s that I totally respect and understand.”

The actress also echoed Morrison’s statements about how the Once Upon a Time fan base embraced her and her wicked alter-ego.

“I am frequently told both online and in person that being a part of such a special show that I have in some way changed someone’s life.” Mader continued to write. “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.”

Sunday’s two-hour finale focuses on the prophesied Final Battle between Emma Swan (Morrison) and Fiona, the Black Fairy (Jaime Murray). The season finale will also introduce two new characters portrayed by The Walking Dead veteran Andrew J. West and Jane the Virgin’s Alison Fernandez.

Back in February, TVLine’s Matt Webb Mitovich reported that the show was casting two new characters including “a strong yet vulnerable” leading man in his late 20s to mid-30s, who was once optimistic and hopeful, but now is a friendless cynical recluse. This character also possesses a dormant, deep-seated spark of hope that waits for the right person to reignite it. Meanwhile, Once’s creative team also looked for a 10-year-old “precocious” girl who has “a constant sprinkle of mischief in her eye.”

Entertainment Weekly’s Natalie Abrams predicted on March 8 that Andrew J. West might play an older version of Henry Mills, Emma’s only son and the Charmings’ grandson, a character that actor Jared Gilmore portrayed since the series debuted in 2011. If Ms. Abrams is correct, the young actor may also be leaving at the end of Season Six finale.

West and Fernandez are expected to join series veterans Parrilla, Robert Carlyle (Mr. Gold/Rumpelstiltskin), and Colin O’Donoghue (Captain Hook) when the show returns to the Alphabet Network this fall.