"Once Upon A Time" fans were saddened to hear about the departure of some cast members right after the sixth season concluded. While Lana Parrilla, Robert Carlyle, and Colin O'Donoghue have been confirmed to reprise their roles, Jennifer Morrison alongside Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Dallas, Rebecca Mader, Emilie de Ravin, and Jared Gilmore are no longer taking part in the upcoming installment of the ABC program.
What happens to their characters?
Earlier reports confirmed that the opening episode of "Once Upon A Time" Season 7 will serve as Morrison's swan song in the series.
Emma Swan is expected to appear for the last time to make a formal exit. The 35-year-old actress announced the unfortunate news of her departure after her character tied the knot with O'Donoghue's Captain Hook in the musical finale of the previous season.
When asked about her decision to leave the fantasy series after six seasons, the actress candidly opened up about her desire to transition from acting to directing, admitting that her hectic network schedules have been delaying her plan to explore the latter. Morrison also thought that it was about time for her to try something else after 13 years of acting.
In an interview with TV Line, she emphasized that it was her personal decision to move on from her "Once Upon A Time" journey after she saw the development of her character arc.
She also thought Emma Swan already had her own happy ending when she and Captain Hook said their vows. "By the time we get to the musical episode, I felt like we were coming to a very natural culmination of her story," she said.
Who's joining the 'OUAT' family?
Before Morrison could even confirm her exit, the ABC show has already introduced two new characters during the final moments of the sixth season.
"The Walking Dead" actor Andrew J. West joined the fairy tale series as grown-up Henry Mills, while "Jane the Virgin's" Alison Fernandez will play his biological daughter Lucy.
EW reported that Gabrielle Anwar ("Burn Notice"), Adelaide Kane ("Reign"), Dania Ramirez ("Devious Maids"), and Mekia Cox ("Chicago Med") will be joining them in "Once Upon A Time" Season 7.
Anwar and Ramirez were reportedly cast as series regulars, while the three others will serve as recurring characters.
Aside from this information, the ABC series refused to reveal further details about the new cast members and the characters they are playing. "Once Upon A Time" Season 7 will air every Friday at 8:00 p.m. starting October 6.
