The Shocking Truth Behind Jennifer Morrison's Unexpected Departure from Once Upon A Time

Summary

After six years on Once Upon a Time, Jennifer Morrison, known for her role as Emma Swan, has made the decision to depart from the show. The demanding schedule and her ambition to explore other artistic ventures, particularly directing, have motivated this transition.

After her departure from the show, Morrison made a comeback for the series finale in order to bid Emma Swan a fitting farewell and a joyful conclusion.

Since then, Morrison has taken on the role of director for various films and episodes of different TV shows. However, she still makes occasional guest appearances on television programs, such as This Is Us and Will Trent.

Once Upon a Time aired on ABC for seven seasons, offering a unique take on classic fairytales such as Cinderella, Snow White, and Beauty and the Beast. Throughout the show, the central character was Emma Swan, portrayed by Jennifer Morrison. However, it is worth mentioning that Morrison did not appear as a regular cast member for the entire duration of the series. Following the season 6 finale, her character bid farewell, just like several other actors, including Ginnifer Goodwin (Snow White/Mary Margaret Blanchard), Josh Dallas (Prince Charming/David Nolan), and Emilie de Ravin (Belle French), who also departed before the final season.

In the first season of Once Upon a Time, viewers discovered that Emma was the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming. Upon her birth, Charming sent her to the mortal world to escape the Evil Queen's curse. The plan was for Emma to rescue her family when she turned 28 years old, as foretold by Rumpelstiltskin. The story unfolds as Emma reunites with her family and joins forces with them to combat various forms of evil. Consequently, when Morrison announced her departure from Once Upon a Time, it necessitated a complete restructure of the series by the writers.

Jennifer Morrison's Decision To Leave Once Upon A Time Explained

In a 2017 interview with Deadline, Jennifer Morrison explained her decision to leave Once Upon a Time after news of her departure emerged. She expressed that after a total of six years on House, one year on How I Met Your Mother, and another six years on Once Upon a Time, the demanding network schedule had taken its toll. Morrison revealed that she had denied certain opportunities throughout the years in order to adhere to these schedules, but now she felt the need to prioritize her personal life. She wanted to be able to spend more time at home with her family and friends, while also exploring other creative endeavors.

Morrison believed it was about time to move forward from Once Upon a Time. Being the lead actor on the call sheet for the enchanting adventure drama TV series for nearly six years, she felt ready to explore new avenues in the realm of films and television, such as directing. Soon after bidding adieu to the show, Morrison took on the director's role in the movie Sun Dogs. Subsequently, she directed episodes for several other shows, including Euphoria, One of Us Is Lying, Dr. Death, Joe Pickett, Surface, and Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies. Despite this shift, Morrison did not completely abandon television acting, as she also made appearances in This Is Us and Will Trent.

Jennifer Morrison Still Had A Guest Star Role In Once Upon A Time Season 7

After Once Upon a Time season 7 concluded, Jennifer Morrison, Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Dallas, and Emilie de Ravin reprised their iconic roles in the series finale. The beloved family reunited for one final mission to combat evil, and the storyline came full circle when Regina utilized another Dark Curse. However, this time it carried a much lighter and more heartfelt essence. Morrison made a delightful return to Once Upon a Time, bidding a proper farewell to her character Emma and granting her the happily ever after she had always deserved.

Source: Deadline