‘Once Upon a Time’ Renewed for Season 7

That Once Upon a Time happily ever after is going to have to wait a bit longer since the long-running ABC drama is coming back for a seventh season.

While news earlier this week of original cast member Jennifer Morrison’s departure as core character Emma Swan made the show’s future seem shaky, co-creator Adam Horowitz tweeted Thursday that a seventh season is a go.

7. #OnceUponATime #ThankYouFansandAbc

— Adam Horowitz (@AdamHorowitzLA) May 11, 2017

Horowitz and co-creator Edward Kitsis told reporters at an early screening of last week’s musical episode that they had a vision for the show’s then-potential seventh season. “We feel like we’ve completed this story and the next chapter of Once Upon a Time will be completely different,” said Kitsis.

Related

Storybrooke Sings! 'Once Upon a Time' Airs Its First-Ever All-Musical Episode

While it remains to be seen whether other cast members will join Morrison and depart the series, the writers aren’t looking to completely reset the series. “We’re not designing [the season finale] in a way that we’re going to say goodbye to everyone and never see them again,” Horowitz said. “We’ve been telling a story for six years now, for these characters, and now we’re trying to complete that story, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have other stories.”

Editor’s note: Late Thursday night, cast member Rebecca Mader revealed on Instagram that she will not be returning to the series. In her post she congratulates Kitsis and Horowitz along with cast members Lana Parrilla (Regina), Robert Carlyle (Rumple) and Colin O’Donoghue (Hook), suggesting at least three cast members who are sticking around for the new version of the series.

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 💚

A post shared by Rebecca Mader (@bexmader) on May 11, 2017 at 11:19pm PDT

Morrison announced her departure on Monday in an Instagram post where she also said she had agreed to return for one more episode if the show were to go to a seventh season. The good news, then, is that after Sunday’s sixth season finale, we won’t be seeing the last of Emma Swan.

Once Upon A Time, Sundays, 8/7c, ABC