Once Upon a Time: Jennifer Morrison Not Returning for Possible Season 7 

Jennifer Morrison‘s Emma Swan song is nigh.

as a series regular for Season 7, in the event the fantasy series is renewed by ABC. Morrison broke the news of her exit early Monday on Instagram (see below), while also noting that she has agreed to return for one Season 7 episode (in the event the show is renewed).

airs its two-hour Season 6 finale, on Sunday, May 14 at 8/7c.

Morrison had been one of four original cast members invited to renew their expiring contract, along with Lana Parrilla, Robert Carlyle and Colin O’Donoghue.

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

is indelible. She will always be a part of the show and its heart and soul.”

With the original casts’ contracts expiring at season’s end, and with two new characters being introduced in the finale as part of a narrative “reset,” the

creators told TVLine the end of this chapter in the series was designed to account for any exits, even those that may appear to be up in the air. “Any changes that we have to accommodate have been accommodated,” Kitsis said in mid-April. “We planned this finale from the beginning of the year, so whoever stays and whoever goes… all those questions have already been dealt with. The audience does not have to fear [anything feeling] incomplete.”

earns a Season 7 — it currently ranks fifth in the demo among ABC dramas (behind

open for Morrison to reprise her role as needed, if she desires.

“[J]ust because Jennifer won’t be back every week doesn’t mean we won’t see our Savior again,” Horowitz and Kitsis said in their statement.

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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Please just end the show. There is no OUAT without Emma Swan!!!

I’m crusheddd to read this, but wish her the best in her future endeavors!!

I’m devastated to read this. Emma Swan is the reason I’ve watched for so long. There’s absolutely no way they can continue this show without her and I certainly won’t be watching if they stupidly try.

Wish her the best of luck but it won’t be the same without her. Maybe if they do a time jump and Emma/Hook have a baby, they will be the new Savior.

I’m very disappointed but Jennifer has to what’s right by her, I’m not sure how this can carry on now, will Colin O’Donoghue want to carry it? that’s a lot of pressure.. A little miffed that this wasn’t announced sooner & that the final song was called ‘Happy Beginning’ as clearly, it won’t be.

So Emma under a sleeping curse & Killian has to find her? bit Vampire Diaries eh?

Robin coming back, Killian & adult Henry trying to find Emma? nice for the girls, no female energy there though, hmmm..?

When actors say this, do they know that there is a need for them out there, or they look around and if nothing comes up, they return?

Filiming a 22-epiaode drama for six years is a lot more demanding than many assume it to be. By the end , many actors are just ready for a break be it because they want to try something new, focus on family or just wanted their character to go else where.

An actor can come back (good example was Matt Davis on TVD – actor didn’t like where his character was going. They let him out of his contract when he got cast in Cult. Cult bombed and he came back two seasons later) but it’s somewhat rare. Most just want a clean break.

Network TV is gruelling, I have nothing but respect for Jennifer & the commitment & dedication she brought. Even when perhaps I’m sure she didn’t really like the storyline perhaps, I understand her wanting to have a life again. Still saddens me to see this show end, it has such a unique spark.

After 6 seasons maybe Jennifer Morrison wants to do other stuff.As for OUAT, i don’t think they’ll kill Emma off just in case Morrison wants to come back one day but maybe they’ll have Emma go missing and next season the characters search for her.

Wait! What? There is no Once without Jennifer as Emma! One episode with her, no. Not right! I’m sorry to say that the show needs to end with season 6 if that is all we have.

Well, if this show wasn’t dead already, this will helps. Lots of luck for Jennifer in her next projects!

I’m not sure who just got burned, but somebody just got burned.

Sounds like the show is pretty dead but it could still work without her if they focus on a new savior or other characters they have neglected, if they do it right. I imagining they cud do like what they did with OUAT in Wonderland and focus on the story of different princesses for every season.

This is really surprising. I thought she was just missquoted when they all talked about that one interview with her stating she can’t imagine playing this character forever as I read the whole thing a bit different. I also thought they initially said the renewal of the series is very dependend on those 4 actors agreeing to return for S7. Her leaving will also kinda make Hook be redundant, as without her I can’t imagine the show not destroying the Emma/Hook Happy Ending….

This makes no sense to me to continue the show without Emma. After loving last night’s musical I’m so sad now to see she’s leaving. I wish her the best but ABC needs to do the right thing and cancel.

UGH this breaks my heart, especially after last night’s ep. Obviously I respect her decision, but MAN, what a way to crush CSers.

Adding, with all due respect to Jen, I really wish she had waited until NEXT Monday to post this. Then we could’ve enjoyed the wedding high for another week and the season would be over.

So, it’ll be a whole new show? With some old cast members still around. Hmm

Best for everyone. Emma’s character is way, way past her prime and in the last 2 seasons has been mostly about pandering to shipper fans anyway. It’s hardly a challenging role to play by now and therefore can’t blame Morrison for leaving. For the show it’s the opportunity to start fresh and they desperately need that. The universe they’ve set up and the story is basically endless what with so many fairtales and fantasy stories for them to work with available for a retelling. Come up with compelling new characters, make a few inspired casting choices and maybe keep 1-3 established characters for more than 1 episode per season and I’ll continue to watch.

Jen made a huge impact in how I do fandoms. It’s not surprising really, but still sad. I look forward to see what she does in the future! Honestly I don’t know if I can really continue the show without her. It’d be hard. This is one of those Castle situations where I’m fine if ABC ends it.

I wasn’t happy about a possible season 7 without the Charmings, and now I definitely can’t see the show without Emma. No matter what anyone says, OUAT doesn’t work as a series like ER did. It can’t rotate out a cast of main characters. This show began with Emma’s story. It should end with it. Any attempt will just have the show appear as a pathetic attempt of what it once was. And as the show is already that more or less, this would really call attention to it. Let it die with dignity. Before it becomes one of those tragic tales of “that show was pretty good if you don’t include the last season.”

Pretty much confirms the show will be cancelled. Dare I say this is good news for Timeless?

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