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  • ‘Once Upon a Time’ Bosses Suspect Fans Want Them to ‘Rot in Hell’ Over Changes

    The “Once Upon a Time” showrunners probably wouldn’t mind finding a portal to a new realm right about now. They are the ones who gave fans this fairy tale universe, and for that fans are grateful, but the two dudes have been under heavy fire ever since news came out that Season 7 would be something of a reboot, leading to the exit of several main characters.

    Just before the Season 6 finale, it was revealed that six main cast members would not be returning as series regulars — Jennifer Morrison (Emma Swan), Ginnifer Goodwin (Snow White), Josh Dallas (Prince Charming), Rebecca Mader (Zelena), Emilie de Ravin (Belle), and Jared Gilmore (Henry).

    Goodwin and Dallas had already planned to make Season 6 their last. Morrison decided to leave the show after being asked to return for Season 7. Both Mader and de Ravin said on social media that they would’ve liked to return for more “Once” but were not asked. And Season 7 is following the adult version of Gilmore’s character, played by Andrew J. West, benching the OG Henry.

    On top of the cast changes, ABC just announced that they’re moving “Once Upon a Time” from Sundays to Fridays. It looked like a vote of no-confidence for Season 7, leading many fans to wonder why they didn’t just go ahead and cancel the show completely, letting the Season 6 finale be the big happy ending.

    TheWrap talked to OUAT creators/executive producers Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis about the many cast member exits, asking how they felt about the fan reaction to the shakeup. Here’s what they both said in response:

    Adam Horowitz: To be quite honest, we haven’t looked at a lot of it because we can guess that the reactions [range] from, “I will never watch this show again,” and “Rot in hell.” But these are the same people two weeks ago that were saying, “When are they going to give someone their happy ending?” So if we listened to the internet, there’s too many voices and too many opinions. What we felt was the show always was bold: At the end of Season 1, we broke the premise of the show, and we broke the curse. And I think everybody would agree six seasons later that if Emma still didn’t believe in it, the show would not be on the air. So we felt it was time to end one adventure and begin a new one.

    Edward Kitsis: We want the fans to enjoy the show, obviously, but we have to find the way to keep it surprising and keep it fresh and keep it moving forward. If there are questions about what we’re going to do and how they feel about it, I think our hope is that when they see what we’re planning to do, that they’re just as engaged as they’ve always been.

    One question might be why they didn’t just make this new adventure a spinoff instead of having it be the seventh season of “Once Upon a Time.” They could’ve ended the main show last week. But the answer to that may be because we will see the departing characters again. That’s something the showrunners emphasized to TheWrap:

    Horowitz: I think what we can tell is you can see everybody. Even people who have been dead on our show come back three years later. There’s a difference between, “I want to do a couple [episodes] a year,” and “I want to be there permanently.”

    Kitsis: I think if all goes according to plan, you’ll see a lot of people pop in and out. It wasn’t like we did a finale for Season 6 where there was a massacre at the end. These characters are going on, so we would love to have them go in and out as they can and if the story warrants it.

    Ginnifer Goodwin did recently say she expected to return to “Once” at some point, maybe the series finale, it’s just now time for a new story to take center stage. Jen Morrison said she agreed to return for one episode of Season 7, maybe the premiere or finale, if it’s indeed the series finale.

    Season 7 will follow adult Henry and his daughter Lucy, plus OG characters Regina (Lana Parrilla), Rumple (Robert Carlyle), and Hook (Colin O’Donoghue), as well as more regulars to be named later. Horowitz said we’ll find out who Lucy’s mother is right in the premiere, and “It will be somebody from the fairy-tale realm,” giving further credence to the theory that it’s Moana, and Henry’s romance with Moana will be the next epic love story.

    “Once Upon a Time” Season 7 will premiere this fall — now on Fridays — on ABC.

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  • Ginnifer Goodwin: ‘I (and We) Will Be Back’ on ‘Once Upon a Time’

    “Once Upon a Time” Season 6 just gave us the last episode with Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Prince Charming (Josh Dallas) as main characters. However, Ginnifer Goodwin assured fans that they will be back … eventually.

    The Season 6 finale gave Snowing a true happy ending, with a new home and barn in the country for the whole family (including Baby Neal). In an email interview with Entertainment Weekly, Goodwin shared the reason for her exit: “What came with the bittersweet decision to give these characters a happy ending — and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect for that — is room for a new story to grow and flourish as Snow and Charming’s did.”

    She added that, she’s “pleased as punch” with how the finale ended the story for Snow and Charming. “They got exactly what they wanted: dramatic, epic love balanced with normalcy (Snow’s word) and the space to indulge in both. Actually, it’s not an ‘end.’ The final chapter of this story line is a continuation… which is kind of Snow’s own point in the finale.”

    Speaking of not an end, here’s an interesting exchange:

    EW: “Would you return in the future — either next season or for whatever ends up being the series finale?”

    GOODWIN: “In keeping with the aforementioned continuation-as-happy-ending, OF COURSE I (and we) will be back. It’s merely time for ONCE to focus on something new because ONCE does ‘new’ extremely well.”

    That sounds similar to Jennifer Morrison (Emma Swan) saying she agreed to return for one episode in Season 7, which may or may not be the series finale. For all we know, fans will love Season 7 and it’ll come back for Season 8.

    The “Once” showrunners wrote tributes to all of the departing cast members, after their separate statement on Jen Morrison, adding this hopeful note for the future: “And even though we won’t be with them every week, in a show about magic and hope, we fervently believe it won’t be the last we see of them.”

    In the meantime, here are details on the new love story of Season 7, which is meant to be just as “epic” as the Snow and Charming love story.

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  • ‘Once Upon a Time’ Season 7 Spoilers on New ‘Epic Romance’ (With Moana?)

    The “Once Upon a Time” Season 6 finale was actually a beautiful episode to end the series … except for the very start and very end, teasing a new beginning that many fans are pretty sure will include Disney’s Moana.

    “The Final Battle” had several Season 1 callbacks, including a role reversal for Henry Mills from the pilot, showing him as an adult (now played by “The Walking Dead” alum Andrew J. West) living in the big city, answering a knock on the door from a child named Lucy (Alison Fernandez) who says she’s his daughter.

    The start of the episode showed the same father-daughter team in the Enchanted Forest, making it look like he was doomed while Lucy was sent to safety to protect the storybook; Lucy was shown connecting with Tiger Lily, who knew her mother and said they should find her.

    Because the episode showed what looked like a tiki door among the realms, many fans suspect Moana will be involved in Season 7, possibly as Lucy’s mother and the subject of the season’s epic new love story.

    Here’s more on the love story from co-showrunner Adam Horowitz to TVLine:

    KITSIS: “Listen, when we left Henry and he was on that school bus, he’s just in ninth grade, right? When we see Henry later, understand that like any kid, when you turn 18, 19, you want to leave home. So I think that Henry is not out on a mission on behalf of the happy endings his family has earned; Henry is out to make his own story. And what we’ll find out is what happened [to everyone]. As Lucy said at the end, “Your family needs your help,” so clearly at some point he must have reached out to them and at some point they came. But really, it started with Henry wanting to leave home. Perhaps he fell in love and has his own true love, because clearly he’s had a daughter, so “Who is Henry’s wife?” and that love story is going to be a big part of next year as well.”

    The showrunners said Storybrooke will not be the home base or focal point of Season 7 but that doesn’t mean we’ve seen the end of Storybrooke. They are going to “open the world up,” as Kitsis told Entertainment Weekly, and “In addition to the people that we’ve already announced who are coming back as regulars, and who are not, there will be more regulars we’re adding to the mix.”

    Here’s more from Kitsis and co-showrunner Adam Horowitz to EW:

    Let’s talk about Lucy. Who is her mother? Is it Violet?
    HOROWITZ: Violet is in the montage at the end. When Henry goes to school, she’s waiting for him at the school.
    KITSIS: But that being said, unfortunately like a lot of us, your first love in high school ends up not being the person you marry. You end up leaving home and moving on. It is not Violet. Who the mother is, and who Henry fell in love with, is one of the things we’re really excited about next year. In the tradition of Snow and Charming, Henry and his wife are a very much Once epic romance.

    “Once” tends to premiere in September on ABC, so that will probably stay the case for Season 7.

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  • ABC Renews ‘Once Upon a Time’ For Season 7, But More Stars Aren’t Returning

    ONCE UPON A TIME - "The Black Fairy" - In flashback, after Rumple's mother, Fiona, learns from his fairy godmother that his destiny is prophesized, she does everything in her power to keep it from happening. Ultimately, Fiona will have to make a decision that will change the course of both their lives forever. Meanwhile in Storybrooke, Rumple faces a similar delimna, on "Once Upon a Time," SUNDAY, APRIL 30 (8:00-9:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network. (ABC/Jack Rowand)JENNIFER MORRISON, LANA PARRILLA, EMILIE DE RAVIN, ROBERT CARLYLEThe storybook isn’t closed on “Once Upon a Time,” though the cast of characters will be changing.

    ABC has renewed the fairy tale drama for a seventh season, which will see a major “reset” of the show. Star Jennifer Morrison already announced she isn’t returning as Emma Swan for season 7, and now, more regulars are departing the show.

    Creators Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz revealed in a statement that Ginnifer Goodwin (Snow White), Josh Dallas (Prince Charming), Jared Gilmore (Henry), Emilie de Ravin (Belle), and Rebecca Mader (Zelena) will not be returning.

    Season 7 will reportedly focus on Lana Parrilla’s Regina, Robert Carlyle’s Rumplestiltskin, Colin O’Donoghue’s Captain Hook (who married Emma in last week’s episode), and two new characters played by Andrew J. West (“The Walking Dead”) and 11-year-old Allison Fernandez (“Jane the Virgin”). They will be introduced in Sunday’s two-hour Season 6 finale.

    Here’s Mader’s farewell note to “OUAT” fans.

    To my Darling Pretties, First of all I would like to start by congratulating Adam, Eddie, Lana, Bobby and Colin on the pick up of Once Upon A Time! I am truly happy for you all and most importantly for the fans that will get to keep tuning in each week to see where they will take us. A lot of you have been asking if I will be joining everyone in Season 7, so I wanted to let you know personally that unfortunately I am not. This wasn’t my choice but a creative decision of the shows that I totally respect and understand. The most important thing is that you all know how much you mean to me. I am told frequently both online and in person that by being a part of such a special show I have in some way changed someone’s life. This is hugely meaningful to me. I am here to let you know that I am the one who has been changed. Not just by playing such a well written multi-dimensional character but by the fandom itself. I have heard your stories, your pain, your struggles, your achievements and I have truly felt you. I have learned. I have grown. I am a better person because of you, the fans and everyone that blessed me with this opportunity to play such an iconic role. Congrats all and thank you! I look forward to the next. I invite you to come with me on this journey. I am forever changed. And I’m wicked. And Wicked Always Wins. Forever yours, Bex ????

    A post shared by Rebecca Mader (@bexmader) on

  • ‘Once Upon a Time’ Finale: Josh Dallas Knows Some Fans ‘Will Be Angry & Upset’ 

    At least “Once Upon a Time” Season 6 finale. Oncers are passionate about the show, but also divided on many points, and it’s highly unlikely that they will all be satisfied with how “The Final Battle” leaves the core characters before the “transition” of Season 7.

    However, even with his realist hat on, Dallas (aka Prince Charming) told TVLine he thinks “most people” will be happy with the May 14 two-part finale. We know that will be the last time Jennifer Morrison’s Emma Swan will be a series regular, and there have been rumors that it will also be the end for Josh Dallas and Ginnifer Goodwin (Snow White) as well. The married co-stars have yet to speak publicly on that, but we’ll probably get official word from them, and ABC, after the finale.

    At this point, Season 7 looks like a lock, but that won’t be official until ABC Entertainment President Channing Dungey announces the network’s 2017-2018 primetime schedule, which she’ll do on Tuesday, May 16.

    Ginnifer Goodwin told TVLine that the showrunners “found a magical way to make it go either way,” in case there wasn’t a Season 7 renewal. “I mean, in classic ‘Once Upon a Time’ style, there is a twist… and it serves all of the characters very well.” Discussing the Black Fairy’s curse, and the Final Battle with Emma Swan, Goodwin teased, “What broke the very first season’s curse was a kiss — very pure, unromantic true love expressed between mother and son. The love that it takes in the finale… I feel is categorically bigger.” Josh Dallas added, “It’s going to be a showdown of epic proportions.”

    The “Once” showrunners told Entertainment Weekly the finale leaves characters like Emma and Regina in “a satisfying place.” But here’s the real talk Josh Dallas gave TVLine:

    “You can’t please everybody. I think that some people will be happy and some people will be angry and upset.” But since “each character gets something that the fans should be happy with, that each character deserves,” he added, “I think most people will be [happy].”

    Do you think “each character” includes Baby Neal? They won’t forget about him, will they?

    The “Once Upon a Time” two-hour finale airs from 8 to 10 p.m. this Sunday, May 14 on ABC. Here are a bunch of photos from ABC to tease “The Final Battle.”

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  • ‘Once Upon a Time’ Finale Photos: Emma in Mental Hospital, Black Fairy Is New Mayor

    Ready or not, “The Final Battle” is coming to “Once Upon a Time,” and one of the showrunners warned that not everyone will survive.

    The Season 6 finale — “The Final Battle” Part 1 and Part 2 — airs Sunday, May 14 from 8 to 10 p.m. on ABC. The network just released a full synopsis and guest star details for the finale, plus photos promoting both parts of the finale. It sounds like the curse is going to do some serious damage to Storybrooke, at least in Part 1, separating our favorites in the last episode when they’ll all be together, before whatever happens in the reboot of Season 7. Sigh. Let’s get to it then.

    Here’s ABC’s press release:

    THE BLACK FAIRY’S CURSE LANDS OUR HEROES IN FAIRY TALE LAND WITH LITTLE HOPE OF RETURNING HOME, AND EMMA IS IN THE FIGHT OF HER LIFE, ON THE SEASON FINALE OF ABC’S ‘ONCE UPON A TIME’

    “The Final Battle Part 1 & 2” – Henry awakens to a cursed Storybrooke and discovers Emma has been in the mental hospital, and the Black Fairy is the new mayor. Henry attempts to help Emma regain her memory while Gold tries to find out what has really happened to Belle. Meanwhile, Snow, Charming, Regina, Zelena and Hook are trapped in a crumbling Fairy Tale Land and desperately try to figure out a way to be reunited with Emma and Henry, on season finale of “Once Upon a Time,” SUNDAY, MAY 14 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network.

    “Once Upon a Time” stars Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White/Mary Margaret, Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan, Lana Parrilla as the Evil Queen/Regina, Josh Dallas as Prince Charming/David, Emilie de Ravin as Belle, Colin O’Donoghue as Hook, Jared S. Gilmore as Henry Mills, Rebecca Mader as the Wicked Witch/Zelena and Robert Carlyle as Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold.

    Guest starring are Lee Arenberg as Leroy/Grumpy, Raphael Sbarge as Archie/Jiminy Cricket, Beverly Elliott as Granny, Deniz Akdeniz as Aladdin, Peter Marcin as Chief, Giles Matthew as Gideon, Andrew J. West as Young Man, Alison Fernandez as Little Girl, Ingrid Torrance as Severe Nurse and Jaime Murray as Black Fairy, Karen David as Jasmine, Gabe Khouth as Mr. Clark/Sneezy, Faustino Di Bauda as Walter/Sleepy, Sara Tomko as Tiger Lily and Olivia Steel Falconer as Violet.

    “The Final Battle Part 1 &2” was written by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz. Part 1 was directed by Steve Pearlman, and Part 2 was directed by Ralph Hemecker.

    PART 1

    Here are two more first look photos from Part 1, in addition to the top image of Emma in the mental hospital:

    PART 2

    And here are some photos promoting Part 2 (looks like Emma gets back to her old self fairly quickly):

    Let’s hope Snow keeps that smile on her face. It’s a good sign.

    Showrunners Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz answered a few questions on the finale to TVLine and Entertainment Weekly. Kitsis told EW, “I would say the theme of the final two hours is belief.”

    When asked about Rumple’s role in the finale, he added, “I will say the Final Battle will be thematic for everybody and that Rumple, as a man who is a difficult man to love, I think he will have a very difficult choice to make again.” A fan asked TVLine if a happy ending (or beginning?) is in store for Rumbelle. “Belle and Rumple are going to be tested,” Kitsis told TVLine. “Everything that they ever wanted is going to be very temptingly close for Rumple. But like everything, it comes with a price. [The Final Battle] will be thematic for everybody, and Rumple, as a man who is a difficult man to love, will have a very difficult choice to make again.”

    EW asked Kitsis if everyone will make it out alive, and he replied, “Can’t promise you that.” We’re not expecting everyone to survive “The Final Battle” but we are curious to see how the dust settles in terms of who will be returning in Season 7, and how that mix of old and new characters will play out.

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  • ‘Once Upon a Time’ Season 6’s Final Scene Will Reveal Season 7 Plan

    This is it. We’re down to the final two weeks of “Once Upon a Time” Season 6, and — no matter what happens — the end of the show as we know it. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but after this Sunday’s May 7 musical wedding episode, we have a two-part May 14 finale that will bring “closure” to the story that’s been told in the past six years, with Season 7 launching a new chapter with a mix of old and new characters.

    ABC has yet to officially renew “Once” for a seventh season, but that news is expected soon. Showrunners Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz have been teasing both the musical episode and the finale, telling TVLine the two-part finale, titled “The Final Battle,” ends Henry’s storybook:

    “The two hours are devoted to everything we’ve set up for six years, and the final scene will let you know what we’re going to do [in Season 7],” Kitsis told TVLine. “After 132 episodes, we wanted to be able to complete this chapter — and set up the new one.” Horowitz said the new characters revealed for the finale and Season 7 — played by Andrew J. West and Alison Fernandez — “tie directly into our future plans, as well as what we’re currently doing.”

    It still sounds like West is going to play an older version of Henry, continuing the story from his adult point of view. But let’s wait and see on that.

    The creators have been teasing out their vision for a Season 7 transition, and Horowitz just added to Entertainment Weekly:

    “By the end of the season finale, a lot of what we’ve been doing for the last six years is wrapped up, and we hope in a very satisfying way. Then, we move forward in a way that, at the end of it, hopefully you’ll see what we’re hoping to do in Season 7. However, he added, “We’re not designing this in a way where you say goodbye to everyone and never see them again. We’ve been telling a story for six years now for these characters and now we’re trying to complete that story, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have other stories.”

    We’ve read rumors, via TVLine and Deadline, that Ginnifer Goodwin’s Snow White and Josh Dallas’s Prince Charming might only guest star “as needed” in Season 7, with The Powers That Be instead aiming to extend the contracts of Jennifer Morrison (Emma), Lana Parrilla (Regina), Robert Carlyle (Rumple), and Colin O’Donoghue (Hook). But, once again, we’ll see how that plays out.

    “Once Upon a Time” Season 6, Episode 20, “The Song in Your Heart,” airs Sunday, May 7 at 8 p.m. on ABC. The season finale episodes air back-to-back on Sunday, May 14.

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  • See ‘Once Upon a Time’ Musical Episode Promo (and Hook’s Wedding Tux)

    You’ve seen “Once Upon a Time” Savior Emma Swan in her white Grace Kelly-inspired wedding dress. Now check out Killian “Captain Hook” Jones in his swanky black velvet tuxedo, and prepare to watch him sing and dance on Captain Swan’s big day.

    The musical wedding episode, “The Song in Your Heart,” airs Sunday, May 7.

    After the April 23 episode, ABC shared a brief promo for the musical wedding hour, after airing the promo for next week’s April 30 episode, “The Black Fairy”:

    TVLine got the first look at Hook’s velvet wedding attire:


    (Is Dr. Archie Hopper marrying them? Looks like it, unless he’s Best Mate.) Colin O’Donoghue told TVLine, of Hook’s wedding suit, “We wanted to go very classical with it. Eddy [Kitsis] and Adam [Horowitz] really wanted a velvet jacket, while I wanted everything to feel like one of those old black-and-white musicals. [Costume designer] Eduardo [Castro] and his team once again did an amazing job!”

    Jennifer Morrison (Emma) shared more on the inspiration for her character’s wedding dress:

    Day 101: Emma’s wedding gown! So much love and thought went into this dress. Just as #onceuponatime pulls from fairytales and literature – for the wedding, Eddy, Adam, Edwardo, and I felt it would be wonderful to pull from the real life fairytale of Grace Kelly. It is a dress that represents the elegance and simplicity of classic timeless strength mixed with the delicacy of feminity and vulnerability. It is the ultimate balance that Emma has been fighting for throughout the 6 seasons. A wholeness. A balance. Not all one thing or another – But rather, a moment that is genuinely, truly, authentically her without barriers and walls. A woman surrounded by people she loves and is loved by, willing to fight to protect them all as well as herself. The joy of a timeless balance. So honored to wear such a beautiful gown. Eduardo and his team created a piece of art once again. The perfect way to end this round of #101smiles #emmaswan #wedding #uglyducklings

    A post shared by jenmorrisonlive (@jenmorrisonlive) on

    Stunning. “Once Upon a Time” airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

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  • ‘Once Upon a Time’ Going Back to Oz to Reveal More of Zelena’s Past

    It’s not easy being green — or feeling second-best.

    This Sunday, “Once Upon a Time” returns to the land of Oz to explore more of Zelena’s (Rebecca Mader) backstory. And it won’t be pretty.

    “She was really abusive, she was terrorizing munchkins, and terrorizing everybody in the Land of Oz,” Mader told Entertainment Weekly.

    Fans have already seen Zelena battling Dorothy. But this episode will introduce some new faces in Oz. ” “We might meet some other ‘Wizard of Oz’ peeps,” Mader teases. “We’re going to learn more about why she is the way she is, and why some of the characters became who they are because of her. There’s an echo between what happens on Oz, and what’s currently going on, because Zelena’s always been on this struggle of being incredibly pained by abandonment, and having a mean dad, and all that stuff.”

    In Storybrooke, Zelena has actually been helpful lately, teaming up with half-sister Regina (Lana Parrilla). Their relationship has had a few setbacks, like when she worked with the Evil Queen to bust Robin Hood out of town. But everyone is coming together to defeat the biggest foe they’ve ever face: the Black Fairy.

    As Mader said, “It’s really complicated, and the stakes are really high.”

    “Once Upon a Time” airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

  • ‘Once Upon a Time’: Emma Is a Stunning White Swan in First Wedding Photo

    Goodbye, Dark Swan; hello, happy, glowing White Swan Bride walked down the aisle by both parents. (Sniff.)

    The May 7 musical episode of “Once Upon a Time” Season 6 is also the hour when our Savior Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison) marries Captain Hook (Colin O’Donoghue), and Entertainment Weekly got the first photo from the episode.

    The image shows Emma walked down the aisle by both Dad Prince Charming (Josh Dallas) and Mom Snow White. (Ginnifer Goodwin said Snow White would be something of a “bridezilla mom” about the wedding.) Meanwhile, Emma’s son Henry (Jared Gilmore) is off to the side, next to adopted Mom Regina (Lana Parrilla), holding his storybook.

    ONCE UPON A TIME - "The Song in Your Heart" (ABC/Jack Rowand)JOSH DALLAS, JENNIFER MORRISON, GINNIFER GOODWIN

    “Once” co-showrunners Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis told TVLine they want this wedding to be intimate and show “a real milestone in Emma’s growth.” They’re also hoping to make some fans cry, which will definitely happen. However, we should also expect some surprises. As Horowitz teased, “Weddings on the TV series ‘Once Upon a Time’ traditionally are fraught with unexpected circumstances. And this is no different.”

    Season 6, Episode 20, “The Song in Your Heart,” will have seven original songs, sung by many cast members. It airs May 7. OUAT airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

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