Before the favorite fairy tale drama series returns in March, it is only fitting to put together a grand entrance for the ladies of pure evilness that are next to cause massive havoc in Storybrooke. "Once Upon A Time" will reintroduce Maleficent, Ursula and Cruella de Vil out in a different universe but with the same sinister and now united intent. Executive producers Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis have hinted Rumplestilksin's business in the past six weeks and it involves these three malevolent royalties of darkness.
First up on the list is none other than Sleeping Beauty's worst nightmare, Maleficent, who will be Kristin Bauer van Straten's alter ego. Although a movie of her namesake showed the good side of the Disney villainess, Kitsis, who brought in the mistress of all evil in the first season of the show, will stick to the badness she is really known for.
"Well since we last saw our Maleficent, there was a fantastic movie that came out, but we are going to be sticking to the villain that we created," Kitsis said. "We met her briefly in season one and we are going to get much more into her back story. In fact, we are even going to see a flashback of how Maleficent and the Evil Queen met."
Apparently, the vindictive fairy has things to deal with involving Regina and other residents of the town.
Ursula is also surfacing from under the sea. The underwater witch is set to emerge from the depths of her aquatic home and into Storybrooke to personally deliver a dose or two of meanness. Kitsis recalled the quick appearance of the goddess of the sea in the third season when Regina's impersonation of her went a bit awry. This time, more of Ursula's past will be uncovered upon her return to the series.
"She's based into the mythology of our Once Upon a Time universe and we're going to be exploring that further," Kitsis assured.
E! Online also added that a little bit of twist in her story will surely be applied.
Lastly, Cruella de Vil, the glamorous Dalmatian-obsessed heiress, is planning to cause destruction in "Once Upon A Time." However, the showrunners strictly emphasized that she will be "nothing like the movie." The fur-coat donning billionaire will, as a first, not display even an inch of her insanity as she reaches the grounds of Storybrooke.
"I would say that our twist on Cruella is that she isn't necessarily that crazy woman from that Disney movie. Our version of Cruella — you'll learn quickly — has origins that trace back to the Enchanted Forest and that there is some power to be had with her," Horowitz expounded.
"There will be some touchstones in the spirit of her character, but in our world she has powers and she'll be much more than the '50s Cruella in the move," Kitsis added.
The return of the season will not only see the shadows of these treacherous divas. The showrunners assured that there will also be new individuals "popping in and out" while the main characters get to be exposed more.
Speaking of these characters, Horowitz dished about the major changes that await the Captain and Emma Swan.
"Hook, after having Emma return his heart will now have to fight to protect Emma's heart," Horowitz told TV Line.
"Once Upon A Time" will be back on March 1.
