Season 6

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 The sixth season of the American ABC fantasy-drama *Once Upon a Time* was ordered on March 3, 2016. It debuted on September 25, 2016, and concluded on May 14, 2017. In January 2017, it was stated that the sixth season would end the main storyline, and for a seventh season, the series would be softly rebooted with a new storyline.

Existing fictional characters introduced to the series during the season include Aladdin, Princess Jasmine, the Count of Monte Cristo, Captain Nemo, Lady Tremaine, Beowulf, Tiger Lily and the Tin Man. Original new characters include Gideon, the Black Fairy, Mary Lydgate, and Robert. The show also reintroduced Jafar and Dr. Arthur Lydgate, who previously appeared in *Once Upon a Time in Wonderland*.

This season also marks the final season of Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison) as a series regular. Morrison announced she would be departing the series after the sixth season finale, but would make two guest appearances in the next season, including the series finale. After serving as a series regular for two seasons, Rebecca Mader also announced that season six would be her last on the show as a regular. Shortly after, Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis announced that original cast members Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Dallas, and Jared Gilmore, as well as Emilie de Ravin who joined the main cast in season two, would also exit the show at the end of the season. All would make at least one appearance the following season.

## Premise

Just when it looks like Storybrooke can enjoy some peace, once more it is threatened by dark forces. The malevolent Mr. Hyde, now separated from Dr. Jekyll, has arrived and brought his fellow inhabitants from the Land of Untold Stories. To make matters worse, Regina's dark half - the Evil Queen - continues to exist despite her heart being crushed; unburdened by a conscience, the Evil Queen has declared war on the heroes and separates Snow and David by placing a sleeping curse on their shared heart. Meanwhile, Aladdin's past as the previous Savior becomes a new factor in Emma's role as the current Savior, and is about to be pushed to the limits, which could lead her to a future that has no happy ending for her, while Gold must deal with trying to win Belle's heart again so they can be a family for their future child. Later on, the Black Fairy abducts Gideon, the son of Gold and Belle, which further complicates things for Storybrooke's residents. As Emma, Regina, and an alternate universe version of Robin Hood return to Storybrooke, Gideon arrives now a grown man, and is revealed to be the one fated to kill Emma. The events lead to the Black Fairy, the creator of the Dark Curse, who is also controlling Gideon with his heart, crossing over into Storybrooke, as the ongoing war between light and darkness ultimately leads to the final battle that was prophesied before the casting of the original Curse.

## Cast and characters

### Regular

* Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White / Mary Margaret Blanchard
* Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan
* Lana Parrilla as Evil Queen / Regina Mills
* Josh Dallas as Prince Charming / David Nolan
* Emilie de Ravin as Belle / Lacey
* Colin O'Donoghue as Captain Hook / Killian Jones
* Jared S. Gilmore as Henry Mills
* Rebecca Mader as Wicked Witch of the West / Zelena
* Robert Carlyle as Rumplestiltskin / Mr. Gold

### Recurring

* Beverley Elliott as Widow Lucas / Granny
* Raphael Sbarge as Jiminy Cricket / Dr. Archie Hopper
* Lee Arenberg as Grumpy / Leroy
* David Paul Grove as Doc
* Gabe Khouth as Sneezy / Mr. Clark
* Faustino Di Bauda as Sleepy / Walter
* Mig Macario as Bashful
* Geoff Gustafson as Stealthy
* Tony Amendola as Geppetto / Marco
* Keegan Connor Tracy as the Blue Fairy / Mother Superior
* Eion Bailey as Pinocchio / August Booth
* David Anders as Victor Frankenstein / Dr. Whale
* Jessy Schram as Cinderella / Ashley Boyd
* Tim Phillipps as Prince Thomas / Sean Herman
* Gabrielle Rose as Ruth
* Alan Dale as King George / Albert Spencer
* Jaime Murray as Fiona / the Black Fairy
* Giles Matthey as Gideon / Morpheus
* Sean Maguire as Robin Hood
* Tony Perez as Prince Henry
* Rose McIver as Tinker Bell
* JoAnna Garcia Swisher as Ariel
* Gil McKinney as Prince Eric
* Giancarlo Esposito as Magic Mirror / Sidney Glass
* Chris Gauthier as William Smee
* Hank Harris as Dr. Henry Jekyll
* Sam Witwer as Mr. Hyde
* Deniz Akdeniz as Aladdin
* Karen David as Princess Jasmine
* Olivia Steele Falconer as Violet
* Tzi Ma as the Dragon
* Patrick Fischler as Isaac Heller
* Sara Tomko as Tiger Lily
* Wil Traval as the Sheriff of Nottingham / Keith

### Guest

* Oded Fehr as Jafar
* Tarun Keram as Emir
* Jordyn Ashley Olson as the Oracle
* Craig Horner as Edmond Dantès / Count of Monte Cristo
* Andrea Brooks as Charlotte
* Andrew Kavadas as Baron Danglars
* Lisa Banes as Lady Tremaine
* Mekenna Melvin as Clorinda Tremaine
* Goldie Hoffman as Tisbe Tremaine
* Max Lloyd-Jones as Jacob
* Jarod Joseph as Gus / Billy
* Jonny Coyne as Dr. Arthur Lydgate
* Elizabeth Blackmore as Mary Lydgate
* Reilly Jacob as Tom Sawyer
* Cedric De Souza as the Sultan
* Kate Dion-Richard as Goldilocks
* Faran Tahir as Captain Nemo
* Nick Eversman as First Mate Liam Jones II
* Paul Johansson as Gabriel / the Woodcutter
* Nick Hunnings as Jack
* Tammy Gillis as Jill
* Mckenna Grace as young Emma
* Rustin Gresiuk as teen August / Pinocchio
	+ Jack Davies as young Pinocchio
* David Cubitt as Robert
* Tara Wilson as young Ruth
* Luke Roessler as young David / young James
* Brandon Spink as young Baelfire
* Torstein Bjørklund as Beowulf
* Zahf Paroo as Prince Achmed
* Charles Mesure as Blackbeard
* Anton Starkman as young Gideon
* Grayson Gabriel as Roderick
	+ Mason McKenzie as young Roderick
* Isabella Blake-Thomas as young Zelena
* Alex Désert as Stanum / Tin Man
	+ Austin Obiajunwa as young Stanum
* Stephen Lord as Malcolm
* Andrew J. West as adult Henry Mills
* Alison Fernandez as Lucy

## Production

### **Development**

Executive producers Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis announced that they were ending the half-season arc structure that was seen in seasons three through five, with Horowitz saying, "We’re also planning a 22-episode story as opposed to breaking it up into two halves this year. It has been really exciting and fun." Kitsis added: "We are changing around what we’re doing this year and going back to that season 1 mentality of small town stories and smaller arcs." This season will focus on Storybrooke as the main setting, but will also show new realms and there will be the exploration of the Savior's mythology. Kitsis and Horowitz hired two directors from their Freeform series Dead of Summer, Norman Buckley, Mairzee Almas, and Michael Schultz helm episodes of the season. Jennifer Lynch directed the eighth episode of the season, "I'll Be Your Mirror".

In January 2017, ABC president Channing Dungey had been the first to suggest that the current narrative of the show would end with season six, regardless of whether or not there is a season seven. Shortly after this news, Jennifer Morrison revealed that the contracts for the original main cast members were expiring in April, expressing uncertainty about the future of the show and her participation in it beyond the current season. Robert Carlyle also expressed that he'd have to make a decision about his future on the show by the end of that month. In March 2017, several sources had reported that four of the current main cast members in particular - Morrison, Carlyle, Lana Parrilla, and Colin O'Donoghue - were in negotiations to renew their contracts for a potential seventh season. In April 2017, Horowitz and Kitsis confirmed that a group of characters will indeed have their stories wrapped up by the end of the season in acknowledging the potential cast changes, saying: "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." On May 8, Morrison confirmed that she had declined an offer to remain on the show and that the sixth season would be her last, signaling the end of Emma's time on the show as the main protagonist. On May 11, Rebecca Mader announced that she would also be leaving the show at the end of the season, citing creative decisions beyond her control. On May 12, season six was announced to be the last for four additional main actors: Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Dallas, Jared Gilmore, and Emilie de Ravin. Thus, characters seeing their storylines wrapped up in the season six finale include Emma Swan, Snow White, Prince Charming, Belle, and Zelena. The season finale revealed that Henry Mills will remain a series protagonist, with the setting shifting to a later time period in which he is portrayed as an adult by Andrew J. West.

#### **Musical episode**

In January 2017, TV Line reported that the series would feature a musical episode later in the season. Creators Kitsis and Horowitz had spoken about the desire to do a musical installment previously, but didn't "even know where to begin." Kitsis and Horowitz confirmed the report in February. They have also since confirmed that the episode will feature 7 original songs, including solos by Jennifer Morrison and Rebecca Mader, as well as a "sing-off" musical number featuring the Evil Queen and the Charmings. Composers Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner will be writing the original numbers featured, with arrangements provided by the show's long-time composer Mark Isham. Kitsis and Hororwitz spoke about the nature of the episode saying, "It actually is a huge part of the mythology of the show and there are some big things that happen in the episode, frankly, it's been one of the challenges of doing the musical because we never wanted to do something where it was just like a to-the-side, one-off thing, and then get back to the main story. We want to see it part of the main story, which meant we had to really plan out this season with some great detail."

### **Casting**

"Horowitz: There certainly are nods to the film that we all love so much, that we're peppering in throughout. We're, right now, focusing on (Aladdin, Jasmine, and Jafar). Kitsis: Obviously, I don't think we would touch the genie. I would like to see a monkey but I can't promise anything. I think, whereas some stories, like *Frozen*, we were very faithful to *Frozen*, I think you will see *Aladdin* will have its own *Once* twist." —Executive producers Kitsis and Horowitz on Once's interpretation of *Aladdin*.

Emilie de Ravin told fans that she will be returning for the sixth season. It was also announced later that Sam Witwer and Hank Harris have signed a contract to play two new recurring characters on the sixth season of the show. On March 29, 2016, Lana Parrilla confirmed she would be returning for the sixth season. Robert Carlyle was confirmed to be returning for the sixth season as Rumplestiltskin along with Rebecca Mader as Zelena and Jared Gilmore as Henry Mills.

It was announced that Giles Matthey was cast as Morpheus, who is slated to appear in the first episode of the season. On July 20, it was announced that Craig Horner would be portraying the Count of Monte Cristo, who was introduced in the second episode of the season. At the 2016 San Diego Comic Con International it was revealed that the season would see the introduction of Aladdin (Deniz Akdeniz), and his story featuring the return of Jafar, now portrayed by Oded Fehr (the role had been previously played by Naveen Andrews on *Once Upon a Time in Wonderland*). Andrews was unavailable due to his previous commitment to Netflix's *Sense8*. It was also announced that Galavant's Karen David was cast as Princess Jasmine. She made her debut in the fourth episode of the season.

In early July, it was announced that Raphael Sbarge would be reprising his role as Jiminy Cricket / Dr. Archie Hopper in the season premiere. The character's last appearance was in the season 4 episode "Rocky Road." On July 20, it was announced that Jessy Schram would be reprising her role as Cinderella in the third episode of the season. The episode explored a connection that her character has to someone from the Land of Untold Stories, as well as the start of her friendship with Snow White. That same episode also introduced Cinderella's stepmother and stepsisters. David Anders returned this season as Victor Frankenstein. The character has a connection with Jekyll and Hyde. On August 15, it was announced that Jonny Coyne would be reprising his role as Dr. Lydgate from *Once Upon a Time in Wonderland*, in the fourth episode of the season. On August 26, it was announced that Faran Tahir was cast as Captain Nemo, and would have ties to Captain Hook. On September 22, it was announced that Tzi Ma would be reprising his role as the Dragon sometime in the season. Gabrielle Rose would also be returning as David's mother, Ruth, who appeared via flashback in episode 7. On September 27, it was announced that Sean Maguire would be returning as Robin Hood. The former main character, who died on-screen near the end of season 5, will not be brought back from the dead but would appear in a multi-episode arc in a different capacity.

For the second half of the season, Wil Traval would be returning for multiple episodes, starting in episode 11, as the Sheriff of Nottingham. On October 31, it was announced that Mckenna Grace would be returning as a younger version of Emma. On December 11, Robert Carlyle revealed that Brandon Spink would be portraying a young Baelfire in episode 13. On January 6, 2017, it was announced that JoAnna Garcia would be returning as Ariel. The story line involves a team-up between Ariel, Jasmine, and Hook. On January 7, Horowitz confirmed that Gil McKinney would also be returning as Prince Eric. Two days later, it was announced that Rose McIver would also be coming back as Tinker Bell. On January 20, it was revealed that Sara Tomko was cast as Tiger Lily. The recurring character appears in at least two episodes starting in episode 17. On January 23, Horowitz announced that Patrick Fischler would return as former author Isaac Heller at some point in the second half of the season. On March 14, it was announced that episode 18 would introduce the Tin Man, played by Alex Désert, and the Cowardly Lion from the *Wizard of Oz* tale.

On February 16, TVLine released casting call descriptions for two characters who appear in the season 6 finale, with potential to continue into season 7 if the show is to be renewed. One is a man in his late 20s-early 30s who "was once optimistic and hopeful but now is a friendless, cynical recluse" but "still possesses a dormant, deep-seated spark of hope that waits for the right person to reignite it." The other is a 10-year-old girl who "comes from a broken home" but "those struggles have only made her stronger — something which will come in handy when darkness threatens everything she holds dear." On March 8, it was announced that Andrew J. West had been cast in the unidentified male role, later revealed in "The Final Battle" as an adult Henry Mills. On March 9, it was announced that Alison Fernandez had been cast in the unidentified female role, also revealed to be Henry's daughter, Lucy.

On May 8, 2017, Jennifer Morrison announced that she had declined an offer to remain on the show through season 7 and would not be returning to *Once Upon a Time* as a series regular in the event the series was renewed by ABC. However, Morrison noted that she had signed a contract to appear in one episode in season 7.

On May 12, 2017, showrunners Horowitz and Kitsis confirmed that five more cast members, in addition to Morrison, would not be returning to the show for a seventh season: Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Dallas, Jared Gilmore, Emilie de Ravin, and Rebecca Mader. In their personal goodbyes to fans, both de Ravin and Mader cited the show's decision to move forward in a new creative direction as the reason for their departures. Gilmore expressed similar sentiments. Meanwhile, Goodwin and Dallas had informed the showrunners a year prior that they intended to leave the show at the end of the sixth season.