Once Upon a Time fans have just a few more weeks before the series returns with the second half of Season 5, and the cast has been hard at work filming new episodes of the series. Photos of the set have revealed a lot about the upcoming episodes, and they have showed plenty of characters returning to the series for Emma’s trip to the Underworld.
Emma is not alone on her journey. She will be joined by her family, Regina, and the Dark One himself. Emma will see some familiar faces once she arrives in the Underworld. That includes Hook, but he is not the only person from her dark past that she will find in the Underworld.
New Once Upon a Time set photos shared by Spoiler TV show the return of Cruella De Ville. Victoria Smurfit, the actress behind the Once Upon a Time villain, shared a few photos from the set of the series on Friday.
Who dis? pic.twitter.com/DsC1RRXGYc
— victoria smurfit (@VictoriaSmurfit) February 13, 2016
A delicious day at the office @OnceABC #luckyCruCru pic.twitter.com/KZjzJBPKYx
— victoria smurfit (@VictoriaSmurfit) February 13, 2016
Additional set photos were also shared on Twitter, and they featured Zelena, Hades, Emma, and Hook. The photos do not reveal much, but the appearance of Cruella is new. She might have a few words for Emma when she sees her in the Underworld — Emma did kill her, after all.
Some might even say that Emma’s killing Cruella started her descent into darkness last season. Yes, Emma sacrificed herself for Regina in last season’s finale, but Emma regretted killing Cruella.
The mid-season premiere for Once Upon a Time is a special episode for the series. It is Episode 100 for the series, and ABC has already released its official details for the episode. Spoiler TV shared the details for “ Souls of the Departed ” this week.
“Emma, Regina, Mary Margaret, David, Robin, Henry and Gold arrive in the Underworld, on a mission to rescue Hook, only to discover that their search will be more difficult than they had anticipated. The inhabitants of the Underworld—all souls with unfinished business and many with quite personal vendettas—hound our heroes at every turn. Meanwhile, in an Enchanted Forest flashback, a familiar face from the Evil Queen’s past returns to present Regina with the perfect birthday gift.”
Regina’s past will definitely pop up again during the second half of Once Upon a Time Season 5 . Recent Once Upon a Time spoilers shared in a previous Inquisitr report revealed that fans will see Regina’s childhood. The episode will also feature a sneak peek into Zelena’s childhood, as well.
According to TVLine , the two young actresses to play young Regina and Zelena are Ava Acres and Isabella Blake-Thomas. Fans of Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD will recognize Acres from Melinda May’s backstory on the series. The flashback will show Regina and Zelena at ages 10 and 12.
“Seen at age 10, Regina is described as neglected and lonely, with zero interest in her mother’s royal duties. Twelve-year-old Zelena meanwhile is coming to terms with the magical ability her father despises so much.”
It is becoming clear that Zelena plays a huge role in the second half of Once Upon a Time Season 5. She was sent back to Oz in the winter finale, but Edward Kitsis teased, “The Zelena story in Oz, with Dorothy, will tie into our Underworld story pretty significantly.”
Fans will need to tune in to watch how Zelena connects to the Underworld when the series returns. Is it possible that Dorothy kills Zelena, and that is where she ends up? That would be the easiest explanation, but this series does not always take things down the easiest path.
Check out the latest preview for the return of the series below. Once Upon a Time will return to ABC on March 6. Are you excited to see what happens next?
[Photo via ABC]