Youve said before that the DNA of the show will still be intact.
So the DNAs the same, and again, were not putting our toes in the league ofStar Wars.
One thing were referring to is on a literal level.
Jack Rowand/ABC
We showed the teaser at Comic-Con this year.
And were going to be flashing back to a new period.
Its another one of these books that has these stories and a different iteration.
ABC
So, yes, were in a new forest.
Hyperion Heights is part of Seattle the way Brooklyn is part of New York.
Weve always seen when these characters get together, they always figure out how to beat the bad guys.
Jack Rowand/ABC
That is the other thing.
No, but we are going to have technology.
What its allowing us to do is see these same characters in a new way.
Eike Schroter/ABC
Shes not going to be the mayor.But you cannot keep Regina down.
You cannot keep that spirit away.
Whats Reginas mindset when we pick up with Roni?
ABC
What about for Rumple?
We dont know much about his character.KITSIS:Well, thats how he likes it.
Does he have a name?KITSIS:The name will be revealed in the premiere.
ABC
I would hope that the growth and everything he fought for wouldnt be erased.
But as we know, thats the day-to-day fight.
Is Gold still the Dark One?KITSIS:That is exactly who he is.
Jack Rowand/ABC
As we know, you cant get rid of the dagger.
That will remain the same.
Lets talk about Hooks alter ego.KITSIS:Rogers.
ABC
Its his last name.
c’mon confirm his first name is not Pauley/Polly/Pauly.HOROWITZ:No!KITSIS:No.
Where did that come from?
Jack Rowand/ABC
By the way, was someone watchingRocky?HOROWITZ:We keep hearing that rumor.
That is not even remotely correct.KITSIS:But it kind of sounds awesome.
Ostensibly cursed Hook doesnt remember Emma.
I dont want to say anymore.GOODMAN:Theres an entire episode thats devoted to answering that question.
Were super excited for people to see it.KITSIS:Thats episode 2.
What can you tease ofEmmas return?HOROWITZ:I would say the red jacket is back.
Henry calls on his family and the trio shows up.
Who is Henry now?
He is an Uber driver.
At the center of the first six seasons was obviously a Savior.
We look at Henry as the new hero.
That was the story we really explored there.
Yes, we established there were other Saviors, but that was Emmas journey.
That was a unique thing and it truly was lightning in a bottle, and it was amazing.
She sounds a lot like Cora, no?GOODMAN:She might be a little bit like Cora.
What we can say is that she is deliciously evil.HOROWITZ:Theres a lot going on inside Drizella.
She earned the evil moniker.
Theyre roommates, theyre good friends.
We love to write those friendship stories.
And shes a good person?KITSIS:Yes, shes a hero.
How about Alice?KITSIS:Be careful what you drink around her.
[Laughs] Im sorry, I meant LSD because its Alice.
No, I was kidding.
Youre going to be bringing in a prominentLGBT character.
What do you want to say about that?KITSIS: One of the shows franchises is love.
There will be a character who is gay and thats just who they are.
They exist in the world.
They dont have a sign on that says, Special Episode.
Were not recasting Josh [Dallas] and Ginny [Goodwin] as Snow and Charming.
But what weve seen on the show still exists.
You mentioned another author, so are there multiple authors then?KITSIS:I think so.
I think there is.
There has to be one author for each book.
I think that is the case.HOROWITZ:I would say the different books have different mythologies.
We are not just trying to redo it.
He had a 9-year-old.
You initially had a six-year plan.
So lets deal with ours… We wanted to approach it with the hopes that there are new people that can come and watch.
Once Upon a Timereturns Friday, Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. Read our primer of the new seasonhere.
Check back Wednesday for our full Q&A with Lana Parrilla.
