'Once Upon a Time' Season 4 News: Pinocchio Returns, Ernie Hudson Cast as Ursula's Father

By Virnelli Mercader, Christian Post Contributor Monday, December 22, 2014

"Once Upon a Time" aired its midseason finale last Dec. 14, but when the series returns, fans can expect some returning characters as well as new ones who will certainly shake things up in Storybrooke.

Now that the series said goodbye to the "Frozen" characters as they stepped through a portal back to Arendelle, there will be more focus on other OUAT characters as executive producers Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis told The Hollywood Reporter that the second half of season four will explore "what makes a hero and what makes a villain. And a happy ending."

The new villains are the trio of Disney lady villains collectively referred to as the Queens of Darkness, made up of Maleficent (Kristen Bauer van Straten), Ursula (Merrin Dungey) and Cruella de Vil (Victoria Smurfit). They will be teaming up with Rumpelstiltskin (Robert Carlyle).

Horowitz and Kitsis noted that the Queens of Darkness will serve to focus the series on its core characters.

"We're really excited that the flashbacks will return to the time of season one," Kitsis said. "We're going to get much more Snow, Charming, Evil Queen, before the curse. We're going to go back to that time period."

Meanwhile, "Ghostbusters" alum Ernie Hudson has been cast as Poseidon, who is also Ursula's father, and he will be appearing on the show's 15th episode. JoAnna Garcia Swisher will reprise her role as Ariel in the same episode.

Another character returning to the show is August Booth, also known as Pinocchio (Eion Bailey). Bailey last appeared in season 2, when August was killed by Tamara after he learned that she had killed a magical healer in Hong Kong named The Dragon. August was saved by the Blue Fairy, however, he was returned to his 7-year-old form. Pinocchio will appear in episode 14 titled "Enter the Dragon."

"Once Upon a Time" returns Sunday, March 1 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.