Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-44796386-20200507214156/@comment-44261938-20200509084204

Yes, there was this Q&A:

''Q: If Rem hadn’t become this popular, and was just as Mr. Cat had in the original plot, would she have continued to show up normally in arc four, without being erased? It’s difficult to think of a Rem that didn’t stand out in From Zero, though.''

''A: I think she’d have shown up like normal in arc four. But, Ram would be without a role, so there would be little reason for the sisters to be around. They might have been in the mansion.''

He also explained in this fan meeting or whatever that arc 2 in general wasn't originaly planned and was only added because the transition from arc 1 to 3 would have been too abrupt. Rem, Ram and Wilhelm also weren't intended to play this big of a role and the Whale battle and "From Zero" weren't originally planned.