‘Once Upon A Time’, ‘Agents Of SHIELD’, ‘ Designated Survivor’ & ‘Black-ish’ All Renewed
US network ABC dropped a stream of renewals last night – ‘Once Upon A Time‘ will return for a 7th Season, ‘Agents Of SHIELD‘ gets a 5th Season, ‘Designated Survivor‘ returns for a 2nd Season & ‘Black-ish‘ is back for a 4th Season.
Although Once Upon A Time is returning, a number of the cast are not, as the series undergoes a major revamp for Season 7. Jennifer Morrison, who plays the main lead Emma Swan is leaving the show (although will appear in 1 episode of the new season), with only Lana Parrilla (Evil Queen/Regina), Robert Carlyle (Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold) and Colin O’Donoghue (Killian/Hook) likely to be returning series regulars so far. Other original cast such as Ginnifer Goodwin (Mary Margaret/Snow White) and Josh Dallas (Charming/David) could appear as guest stars, but that is yet to be determined.
The changes are said to be creatively driven, not a cost cutting measure, and bringing “closure in this particular narrative” according to ABC entertainment president Channing Dungey. The season 6 finale will introduce 2 new characters, who are potentially focal points of the new story. They are played by Andrew J. West (The Walking Dead) whose character is a “strong yet vulnerable” leading man who was once optimistic but now is a cynical recluse, and Alison Fernandez (Jane the Virgin), a precocious 10-year-old with a “constant twinkle of mischief in her eye.”
Agents Of SHIELD had been seen as a show ‘on the bubble’ of renewal, as it is most years. However, Season 5 will push it over the coveted 100 episode mark, which is helpful when selling a show into syndication. It’s also an important show to ABC as a platform to launch other Marvel shows, and connect to the wider Marvel franchise.
Whilst Designated Survivor‘s linear ratings have been okay, it’s delayed viewing/catch up viewing figures have been astounding, making it ABC’s most watched show, once all the numbers are added together. The series, which airs on Netflix in the UK, sees Kiefer Sutherland return to tv as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Tom Kirkman, who ends up becoming President after an explosion during the State of the Union wipes out most of the senior government.
And finally, it comes as no great shock that the highly acclaimed Black-ish was renewed for a 4th season. Not only has the show been winning and getting nominated for Golden Globes and Emmys, ABC’s sister channel Freeform is looking at taking on a spin-off series, which follows daughter Zoey (Yara Shahidi) off to college.
Once Upon A Time and Designated Survivor can be found on Netflix UK, whilst Agents Of SHIELD and Black-ish air on E4.
