The chance of Once Upon a Time continuing past the current season 6 is still very much up in the air. The latest bit of casting news does seem to suggest what fans can expect if the series is picked up for season 7.

TVLine reports that The Walking Dead alum Andrew J. West has been cast to guest star in the season 6 finale and he could become a series regular if Once Upon a Time is renewed for season 7. The suggestive part of the news is that West’s potential role sounds very similar to Emma Swan. 

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The name and details of West’s role are being kept under wraps. There were previous reports however that the show was looking for a leading man who was “strong but vulnerable” in his late 20’s or early 30’s. The character was described as once being very hopeful and optimistic but has now turned into a cynical recluse. Yet he “still possesses a dormant, deep-seated spark of hope that waits for the right person to reignite it.” 

If that doesn’t sound enough like Emma before she met Henry in the pilot, Once Upon a Time is also looking for a 10-year old girl who will appear in the season finale (and season 7). The girl is described as “precocious” with a “constant twinkle in her eye.” The girl comes from a broken home and is struggling to fight back when darkness threatens “everything she holds dear.” 

If you swap the genders both roles are essentially Henry and Emma in the pilot. As for what this means for the future we can only guess. 

There was talk that a Once Upon a Time season 7 would be spin-off of sorts with only a few characters left from the original and Jennifer Morrison wasn’t even sure if she would return for season 7. Maybe season 6 will wrap up Emma’s story entirely only to start things over with a brand new Savior in a similar situation. Perhaps West is even playing a grown-up Henry and the series will jump forward in time so Henry will have a daughter of his own come save him from his mundane life. 

So what do you think? Does this make you worried for season 7 of Once Upon a Time or excited? Do you have any theories on who Andrew West could be playing?

Once Upon a Time season 6 airs Sundays at 8/7c on ABC. Want more news? Like our OUAT Facebook page. 


(Image courtesy of AMC)  

Derek Stauffer

Contributing Writer, BuddyTV

Derek is a Philadelphia based writer and unabashed TV and comic book junkie. The time he doesn’t spend over analyzing all things nerdy he is working on his resume to be the liaison to the Justice League.