‘Once Upon A Time’ Season 4 Spoilers: ‘The Princess And The Frog’ Characters Coming Soon?

Once Upon a Time is casting another prince, and there are a few hints that he might be a certain green-skinned playboy from Maldonia.

Once showrunners Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis upset some fairy tale fans by seemingly skipping over The Princess and the Frog to focus on Disney’s Frozen during season 4. However, maybe they’re going to sneak in a few Princess and the Frog characters during Anna and Elsa’s story arc.

According to TV Line, Once Upon a Time is casting the role of a “pompous prince who beneath his veneer of confidence-slash-arrogance is not much more than a coward ill-equipped to handle conflict.” It’s possible that this character could simply be one of Prince Hans’ 12 brothers from Frozen, but Prince Naveen also fits this description. Most Disney princes are dashing heroes who can do no wrong (Prince Charming, Prince Phillip, etc.). However, Naveen acts like a selfish jerk when he’s first introduced in The Princess and the Frog.

There’s another new Once Upon a Time character whose name might be a nod to The Princess and the Frog. During episode 5, Once will introduce a recurring character named Lily. She’s a teen with a “charming, take-no-prisoners punk exterior and the heart of a secretive, insecure opportunist.” Perhaps her name is a reference to the lily pads that are often associated with frogs (it’s a bit of a stretch, but you never know with this crazy show). She could be Prince Naveen and Princess Tiana’s daughter — or she could be the Once Upon a Time version of Peter Pan character Tiger Lily.

There are a few other recent Once Upon a Time spoilers that will make certain fans happy. Hookers will be thrilled to know that they’re going to get more of their favorite pirate’s back story. Adam Horowitz remained tightlipped about what part of Hook’s life season 4 will explore, but he revealed that it will have nothing to do with the mystery of who he traded the Jolly Roger to (the writers are saving that story for a little further down the road). Because Hook has sailed to many different lands, he could have visited Frozen‘s Arendelle or The Princess and the Frog‘s Maldonia at some point in the past. Perhaps his flashbacks will take viewers to one of these fairy tale worlds.

It looks like Elizabeth Mitchell’s sinister Snow Queen character will be the villain during the Frozen story arc, but Once Upon a Time will be resurrecting someone to play the Big Bad during the second half of season 4. According to Entertainment Weekly, Kristin Bauer van Straten is going to reprise her role as Maleficent, Regina’s old fairy friend. Perhaps the Once writers decided that Maleficent deserved more screen time and a more fleshed-out back story after seeing what Disney did with the dark fairy in the live-action Maleficent movie.

And here’s one more spoiler: Regina and Henry will be heading out on some sort of special mission this year. It might be just the distraction Regina needs to keep her mind off of Marian being reunited with her Robin Hood, and Henry might keep his adoptive mother from doing something rash.

“Maybe some of his light side will rub off on her,” Edward Kitsis said. Henry and Regina’s mission will probably have something to do with Maleficent or Elizabeth Mitchell’s Snow Queen.

Once Upon a Time returns Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. What are you looking forward to more: the Frozen arc, the return of Maleficent, a possible The Princess and the Frog nod, or more Hook?

[Image credit: Disney via Facebook]