‘Once Upon A Time’ Season 7 Moves to Fridays on ABC; Creators Explain Purpose of “Reboot” Following End of Emma Swan’s Journey, Beginning of Henry’s Story

‘Once Upon A Time’ season 7 has been moved from its old slot on Sundays to Friday evenings on ABC. Creators Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis explained the purpose of the “reboot” following the end of Emma Swan’s journey and the beginning of Henry’s story.

According to Deadline, ABC recently released its fall schedule for 2017 revealing that ‘Once Upon A Time’ will be moved from its long-time slot on Sundays to Fridays at 8 in the evening. The reality show ‘Shark Tank’ will be taking the slot previously occupied by the popular fairy tale television series as the show continues on a cast shake-up.

The series will be followed by Marvel’s ‘Inhumans’ then ‘20/20’ on its new time slot on Fridays. The network will also be introducing four new dramas and one new comedy show in the fall. These include ‘The Mayor,’ ‘The Good Doctor,’ ‘The Gospel of Kevin’ and ‘Ten Days In the Valley.’

Six series regulars will not be returning for the seventh season. Following the finale, main actors Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Dallas, Jared Gilmore, and Jennifer Morrison announced their departure from the show. Emilie de Ravin and Rebecca Mader will not be returning as well. The news left fans wondering how the series could possibly move on without their core characters.

The rebooted story for season 7 will pick up after the end of Emma Swan’s (Jennifer Morrison) journey and will focus on a grown-up Henry, to be played by Andrew J. West, as well as his daughter Lucy, to be played by Allison Fernandez. Regina (Lana Parilla), Hook (Colin O’Donoghue), and Rumple (Robert Carlyle) will still be around to help Henry as the story continues.

Series creators Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis explained the purpose of the “reboot” during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. When asked if Henry’s new story is a total “reboot” from the original series, Horowitz replied, “I hesitate to use the word "reboot." We’re more thinking about it as a hybrid of a lot of things. We’re paying homage to the original premise, but there are certain characters who are returning and some who are not.”

He continued, “It’s a combination of a lot of things, but what we’re trying to do is go in a new direction but stay true to the spirit of what the show has always been.”

The two also promised that fans of the original series will come to love the new one since the series will continue telling the story of “hope and fairytale characters trying to find themselves in the real world.”

Kitsis said, “We’re going to return to more storytelling like that, and if they love the original Once, then hopefully they will enjoy the next chapter and the new universes and adult Henry.”

‘Once Upon A Time’ season 7 was renewed on ABC last May 2017.