'Once Upon a Time' Season 3 Spoilers: Writer Jane Espenson Talks Neverland Adventures & Rumplestiltskin/Belle Updates
Jane Espenson, writer and producer for Once Upon A Time, said recently that she's looking forward to what happens to the Jolly Roger passenger when they arrive at Neverland in the show's upcoming third season.
Talking about what she hopes to bring to the small screen in the fall, she revealed tidbits of what viewers can expect to see on the ABC series.
"I really think people are going to love where we're going in season 3," Espenson told Wetpaint. "We are really focusing in on the emotional arcs of these characters, particularly our core characters."
The characters will be encountering Peter Pan in their travels, but the previous season suggested that the show's Peter Pan will be vastly different than the one people have grown up with via Disney.
Once Upon A Time's Pan is described as a "creepy shadow figure," in contrast to Captain Hook; Hook is generally a villain, but is portrayed on the show with a bit more nuance to his character.
"We often like to play characters against type," said Espenson, who cited the example of the show's version of Little Red Riding Hood. "We revealed that she's also half, part-time the wolf. So we like to look at what's a new take for this character."
Actress Emilie de Ravin, who plays Belle, told TV Guide in May that she would be staying on as a series regular. She added that her character is set to play an important role manning Storybrooke in the absence of the Jolly Roger passengers.
Though Belle was last seen left on the docks lamenting the loss of Rumplestiltskin, Espenson revealed that Belle's reaction to her loss will help show the world what she's made of.
"[She] is a very strong person, and a very strong character," Espenson said.
The loss of Rumplestiltskin, she added, may not even last that long.
"The notion that we would take a beloved couple and split them up now and never give them a scene together again, that's not how I would play it. I'd be surprised if that were the case."
As for the prospect of having a gay romance on the show, Espenson agreed that it should be present on the show. However, she acknowledged they need to really find something that worked before pursing that kind of storyline.
"I would love to see Once Upon A Time have a gay couple, and I can definitely see it happening," said the writer, who was also behind a gay marriage-centered web series called Husbands. "I love all the ships. I see all the pairings, they all make sense to me. It's a matter of what makes sense for our show."
Once Upon A Time returns to TV in fall 2013.
