Leading lady Jennifer Morrison will not be returning to Once Upon a Time as a series regular for Season 7. Right the show is on the bubble regarding renew for next year. Morrison broke the news on her on Instagram today. She also shared that she agreed to return for one Season 7 episode
The development comes just days before the showing of Season 6 finale, on Sunday, May 14 at 8/7c.
In a statement, series co-creators Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis said,
“The past six years of collaborating with Jennifer as Emma Swan have been truly magical. Watching her breathe life into Emma, she accomplished more than we could have dreamed possible – she gave life to a brand-new Disney Princess, filled with strength and intelligence and an incredible closet full of red leather jackets.
“We’ll miss seeing her every day, but her imprint upon Once Upon a Time is indelible. She will always be a part of the show and its heart and soul.”
Horowitz and Kitsis also said in their statement:
“[J]ust because Jennifer won’t be back every week doesn’t mean we won’t see our Savior again,”
This is a shock. Morrison, along with Lana Parrilla (Regina), Robert Carlyle (Mr. Gold) and Colin O’Donoghue (Captain Hook) were all in negotiations foe new deals to return for a seventh season. Besides being on the renew bubble, the show also faces a major reboot of big time jump in an effort to move the show forward.