Why Did Jennifer Morrison Quit ‘Once Upon A Time’?

The fairytale is almost over for Jennifer Morrison. The actress revealed that she will quit ABC’s “Once Upon a Time” should the drama be renewed for Season 7. Morrison announced the news Monday on Instagram.

It should be noted that Morrison did not get fired. She made the choice after six years playing Emma Swan. The actress revealed that while she had a choice to renew her contract for the 2016-17 season, she opted not to sign on. It sounds like Morrison made the decision to exit because she wanted to move on to other projects.

“As I reached the end of my 6 year contract on ‘ONCE UPON A TIME,’ I was faced with a significant decision. ABC, Eddy Kitsis, and Adam Horowitz very generously invited me to continue as a series regular. After very careful consideration, I have decided that creatively and personally, it is time for me to move on,” she revealed.

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In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, she revealed that the filming schedule in Vancouver also played a role in her decision to quit. “I needed to be not living away from home, so far from home,” she explained. “I feel like I’m at home in New York and Los Angeles, so I wanted to sleep in my own beds, and be by my family and friends, and have a life again. It was just time personally and professionally to step away when my contract was done.”

The actress noted how grateful she is to the show. “Emma Swan is one my favorite characters that I have ever played,” she wrote in her Instagram post. “My 6 years on ‘ONCE UPON A TIME’ has changed my life in the most beautiful ways. I am absolutely blown away by the passion and commitment of the Oncer fans. I am so honored to have been a central part of such a special show.”

Morrison, however, will find a way to wrap up her storyline if the show does get renewed. She explained that while she hasn’t signed on for the entire season, she is willing to guest star in Season 7. “If ABC Network does in fact order a Season 7, I have agreed to appear in one episode, and I will most certainly continue to watch ‘ONCE UPON A TIME,’” Morrison added. “The creativity of the show runners has always inspired me, and I cannot wait to see the ways that they continue to develop and reinvent the show.”

The 38-year-old mentioned that she is happy to continue attending “Once Upon a Time” conventions and meeting her fans. She is already scheduled to attend a few of Creation Entertainment’s “OUAT” conventions later this year. In August, she’ll attend a San Francisco convention. She’ll be at New Jersey event in October, and in November, she’ll appear at a Burbank, California, gathering.

As for how “Once Upon a Time” Season 6 will end Emma’s story, it sounds like the season finale will wrap up many storylines. Executive producer Eddy Kistis told TV Guide that viewers can expect a satisfying ending. “What I would say for fans is that it will be complete, so they will not have any dangling threads … We understand that this could be the last year so we aren’t — trying to hope for the best. We feel like we’ve completed this story and the next chapter of ‘Once Upon a Time’ will be completely different.”

Morrison’s final episode of “Once Upon a Time” Season 6 airs Sunday at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC.