<P> 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 will focus on Storybrooke as the main setting, but will also show new realms and there will be the exploration of the Savior's mythology . Kitsis and Horowitz hired two directors from their Freeform series Dead of Summer, Norman Buckley, Mairzee Almas, and Michael Schultz helm episodes of the season . Jennifer Lynch directed the eighth episode of the season, "I'll Be Your Mirror". </P> <P> 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'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 . Thus, characters seeing their storylines wrapped up in the season six finale include Emma Swan, Snow White, Prince Charming, Belle, and Zelena . The season finale revealed that Henry Mills will 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 . </P> <P> In January 2017, TV Line 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 have also since confirmed that the episode will feature 7 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 will be writing the original numbers featured, with arrangements provided by the show's long - time composer Mark Isham . 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 ." </P> <P> Emilie de Ravin told fans that she will be returning for the sixth season . It was also announced later that Sam Witwer and Hank Harris have signed a contract to play two new recurring characters on the sixth season of the show . On March 29, 2016, Lana Parrilla confirmed she would be returning for the sixth season . Robert Carlyle was confirmed to be returning for the sixth season as Rumplestiltskin along with Rebecca Mader as Zelena and Jared Gilmore as Henry Mills . </P>

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