The sixth season of the American ABC fantasy-drama series Once Upon a Time was ordered on March 3, 2016. It premiered on September 25, 2016, and concluded on May 14, 2017. Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, Lana Parrilla, Josh Dallas, Emilie de Ravin, Colin O'Donoghue, Jared S. Gilmore, Rebecca Mader, and Robert Carlyle return as principal cast members from the previous season. Due to the seventh season being a soft reboot, this season marks the final appearance of Goodwin, Morrison, Dallas, De Ravin, Gilmore, and Mader as regulars.
Existing fictional characters introduced to the series during the season include Aladdin, Jasmine, the Count of Monte Cristo, Captain Nemo, Lady Tremaine, Beowulf, Tiger Lily, and the Tin Man. The season also reintroduced Jafar and Dr. Arthur Lydgate, both of whom previously appeared in Once Upon a Time in Wonderland.
Premise The residents of Storybrooke are faced with threats from the Evil Queen and Mr. Hyde, both with different agendas following the arrival of refugees from the Land of Untold Stories. It leads to events testing Emma's savior abilities that result in the arrival of the Black Fairy, thus beginning the final battle that is prophesied before the casting of the original Dark Curse. As dark and light collide, a new and darker curse is unleashed, leading to the fall of all the realms. The final battle is fought and won, leading to the heroes earning their happy beginnings. In the future, a new adventure begins for an adult Henry and his daughter Lucy.
Cast and characters
Main 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 French 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 Dreamy / 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 Mister 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 of Locksley Tony Perez as Prince Henry Rose McIver as Tinker Bell JoAnna Garcia as Ariel Gil McKinney as Prince Eric Giancarlo Esposito as Magic Mirror / Sidney Glass Chris Gauthier as Mr. Smee Hank Harris as Dr. Henry Jekyll Sam Witwer as Mr. Hyde Deniz Akdeniz as Aladdin Karen David as 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 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 and 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
Episodes
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 would focus on Storybrooke as the main setting, but would also show new realms and an exploration of the Savior's mythology. Kitsis and Horowitz hired directors from their Freeform series Dead of Summer, Ron Underwood, Norman Buckley and Mairzee Almas, alongside Michael Schultz, to helm several 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 Swan'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. The season finale revealed that Henry Mills would 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, TVLine 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 had also since confirmed that the episode would feature seven 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 were brought in to write the original numbers featured, with arrangements provided by the series' long-time composer Mark Isham. Ron Underwood was hired to direct the episode. 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
Emilie de Ravin told fans that she would be returning for the sixth season. It was also announced later that Hank Harris and Sam Witwer signed deals to guest star as two new recurring characters for the season, later revealed to be Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde respectively. On March 29, 2016, Lana Parrilla confirmed that she would be returning for the season. Robert Carlyle was confirmed to be returning for the 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 was 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, it was revealed that the season would see the introduction of Aladdin, played by Deniz Akdeniz, and his story would feature the return of Jafar, now portrayed by Oded Fehr. The character had previously been featured on Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, portrayed by Naveen Andrews, who was unavailable to reprise the role due to his commitment to Netflixs Sense8. It was also announced that Galavants Karen David was cast as Princess Jasmine. David made her debut in the fourth episode of the season.
In early July, it was announced that Raphael Sbarge would be returning as Jiminy Cricket / Dr. Archie Hopper for the season, having last appearanced 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 for an episode as Victor Frankenstein, connecting the character 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 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 near the end of season 5, would not be resurrected, but would appear in a multi-episode arc in a different capacity.