Once Upon a Time season 7 is officially happening and it has officially lost another cast member. Series regular Rebecca Mader announced on her Instagram account that the season 6 finale will be Zelena’s swan song. Mader will not be returning to Once Upon a Time season 7.
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Mader’s exit follows Jennifer Morrison’s departure which was announced before Once Upon a Time’s renewal. The reasons for Mader and Morrison’s departure are slightly different. Mader discloses that leaving Once Upon a Time was not a personal decision but a creative one. In other words, Zelena was written out of the show. There are no hard feelings by Mader as she wrote that the show’s decision to write out Zelena is one that she “totally respect[s] and understand[s].”
“The most important thing is that you all know how much you mean to me,” Mader wrote to the fans. “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.”
Mader added that she is happy that Once Upon a Time will continue. She wrote, “I would like to … [congratulate] 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.”
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 💚
Mader’s congratulations seem to confirm the reports that Once Upon a Time‘s reset will focus around Robert Carlyle, Lana Parrilla and Colin O’Donoghue’s character. The trio of actors have been widely rumored to be the only returning series characters for season 7 and Mader’s statement brings that rumor that slightly closer to reality.
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We do know at least one of those returning actors is accurate. Shortly after the news of Once Upon a Time season 7 broke, Colin O’Donoghue celebrated on his Twitter account. When asked O’Donoghue confirmed that he will be back for season 7 as Captain Hook even though his new TV bride Emma Swan will not be back.
Yes I am staying!!! See you next season! @OnceABC #hookers #boom!!!!
— Colin o’donoghue (@colinodonoghue1) May 12, 2017
So what do you think? Will you miss Rebecca Mader? Are you happy that Hook will be back even though Emma will not return? Can Once Upon a Time survive with just Regina, Rumple and Hook? Are you more or less excited for the reset now?
The two-part Once Upon a Time season 6 finale airs Sunday, May 14 at 8/7c on ABC. Want more news? Like our OUAT Facebook page.
(Images courtesy of ABC and Instagram / Rebecca Mader)
Contributing Writer, BuddyTV
Derek is a Philadelphia based writer and unabashed TV and comic book junkie. The time he doesn’t spend over analyzing all things nerdy he is working on his resume to be the liaison to the Justice League.
