‘Once Upon a Time’ Will End with the Season 7 Finale

The writing was on the wall with the lower ratings Once Upon a Time generated following its move this season to a Friday night timeslot. That new Friday slot combined with the loss of most of the major characters fans had grown to love over the previous six seasons pointed to the show’s end, with ABC confirming Once Upon a Time will close its storybook with the season seven finale.

“Seven years ago, we set out to create a show about hope, where even in the darkest of times, a happy ending would always be possible,” stated series creators Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz. “But we never imagined the happy ending that was actually in store for all of us — years and years of adventure, romance, magic and hope. We’re so grateful to our brilliant collaborators — the cast, crew and writers — as well as our partners at the studio and network for making this journey possible. But most of all, we want to thank the fans. Their fierce loyalty and devotion was the real magic behind Once Upon a Time. We hope they join us for these last few hours as we journey to the Enchanted Forrest for one more adventure.”

“When we first heard Adam and Eddy’s pitch for Once Upon a Time, we knew it was something incredibly special. For seven years, they have captivated us with their creativity and passion while reimagining some of our most beloved Disney fairytales, creating an undeniable global hit. Saying goodbye will be bittersweet, but Once Upon a Time will forever be part of the ABC legacy and we can’t wait for fans to join us in this epic final chapter,” said ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey, announcing the series’ end.

Season seven is set to return on March 2, 2018. The cast of this final season is led by Lana Parrilla as Regina/Roni, Robert Carlyle as Rumpelstiltskin/Weaver, and Colin O’Donoghue as Hook/Rogers. The season seven cast also includes Andrew J. West as Henry Mills, Gabrielle Anwar as Lady Tremaine/Victoria Belfrey, Dania Ramirez as Cinderella/Jacinda, Alison Fernandez as Lucy, Mekia Cox as Sabine/Tiana, Adelaide Kane as Drizella/Ivy, Emma Booth as The Witch/Gothel/Eloise Gardener, and Rose Reynolds as Alice/Tilly.

Following the announcement that the series will not return for an eighth season, Lana Parrilla took to Instagram to post a message to fans.

I’ll never forget the day I walked in to audition as Evil Queen Regina for Eddy and Adam. I was wearing all black (of course) and had this crazy, dreadlock looking wrap draped over my shoulders. I had no idea where this pilot was going to go but I knew it was something special. I walked out of the audition room and down the hall was an old photograph of the OG Evil Queen herself. I knew then, something magical was about to begin. It’s been 7 years now and I couldn’t be prouder of what we all have created. Adam and Eddy had this crazy idea in their minds years ago and it turned into a fantastical phenomenon. This show has touched so many people’s lives, changed them for the better, has inspired us to grow in ways we never could’ve imagined. It’s brought hope, joy, friendships and love to so many. I am lucky and blessed to have been a part of it for 7 years. I want to thank the cast, our incredibly, hard working crew and the writers for your dedication and hard work over the years. Thank you to the studio and network for believing in us, supporting us and giving us a home to tell our stories. But most importantly, I want to thank our fans. We honestly wouldn’t be here without your love, support and loyalty to ONCE. Thank you for standing by us all of these years. We hope we’ve made you proud and that the magic this show has brought in to your lives never dies. Thank you for all you’ve given back to us in return and always remember to keep that magic alive. Signed with love, respect, gratitude and honor, Lana ❤️ #OUAT ?

A post shared by Lana Parrilla (@lparrilla) on Feb 6, 2018 at 1:21pm PST