Disney's strong-willed Scottish princess Merida will be coming to Storybrooke when "Once Upon a Time" returns to ABC for season 5.
Series executive producers Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis announced that the archery expert heroine of the 2012 animated film "Brave" will be featured in "OUAT's" fifth season by showing a teaser during its 2015 San Diego Comic-Con panel appearance on Saturday.
In the trailer, Merida's signature archery skills and curly red hair are displayed as the character seamlessly hits the target's bullseye without any difficulty. When the character pulls back her hood, it is revealed that the actress who will portray the role is "Torchwoood" star Amy Manson.
The actress talked about her new role in her Twitter account, saying that she has been keeping it a secret for a while. Manson also posted a photo of herself while practicing her archery skills, captioned with Merida's famous line: "Our fate lives within us. You only have to be brave enough to see it."
Aside from Merida's appearance in "Once Upon a Time," fans should also look forward to seeing "The Savior" Emma Swan get fully consumed by the darkness. The new look of actress Jennifer Morrison as Storybrooke's new "Dark One" was featured in another video clip shown during the Comic-Con.
In the trailer, Emma dons an all-black outfit matched by a sleek, pulled back hairstyle and sparkly face. She is seen incarcerated in the same Enchanted Forest prison where Robert Carlyle's Rumplestiltskin was earlier detained. A servant, who is shocked to see a beautiful woman instead of a beast, delivers her meal outside her cell. When he tells her that people are calling her a monster, Emma coldly repliess that she is a wicked creature "only on the inside" before reaching out to get his heart and crushing it without remorse.
Morrison told the panel attendees that she is thrilled to see Emma get in touch with her darker side.
"I'm really excited. As an actor to start season five of a show doing something brand new is exciting... now I get to try something totally new and different and get to have the fun that these guys are having," she said while referring to co-stars Lana Parrilla and Carlyle, who were also in attendance during the press panel. The actors portray the roles of Storybrooke's former evil forces Regina "The Evil Queen" Mills and Rumplestiltskin.
At the SDCC 2015 panel, Morrison, Carlyle, Parrilla, and the series executive producers were also joined by other "Once Upon a Time" cast members, including Jennifer Goodwin, Josh Dallas, Colin O' Donoghue, Emile de Ravin, Rebecca Mader, and Sean Maguire.
It was also revealed that the show's 100th episode that will air this season will be something special, but they will not reveal the details about it to keep it a surprise.
"Once Upon a Time" season 5 is slated to premiere on Sept. 27.
