ABC has cancelled Once Upon a Time and the series will not be returning for an 8th season. The show wrapped up its original storyline at the end of the 6th season. When the series returned this fall it featured a new setting and many new characters. The reimagination did not bring the series new viewers as the show continued its declines.
Show creators and producers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz talked to Entertainment Weekly about the end of the series.
EDWARD KITSIS: Listen, we love this show, we were happy to continue going on, but collectively they felt that, after seven years and 156 episodes, it was time. For us, we’re like, “It’s a hell of a run.” We never thought we’d get to seven episodes, let alone seven years.
ADAM HOROWITZ: It wasn’t like it was a shocking phone call. We’ve had conversations for a while about what this year would be, and whether it would go on or not, and if this could be the end, so we’ve been prepared for this for a while. The network has been incredible partners with us the whole way, as has the studio. Ultimately, it’s also a business, so it becomes about, “Is it financially viable to keep going forward?” so there’s all that kind of stuff, stuff that we generally don’t deal with because we’re just focused mostly on the creative. We reached that point where it’s like, “Okay, now it’s time to wrap it up. This has been an amazing 156 episode-run, and let’s all be proud of what we’ve done and try to wrap it up.”
KITSIS: It’s time to declare victory and go home
Once Upon a Time returns for its final run of episodes on March 2 on ABC.