Report: "Once Upon a Time" Seeks New Mad Hatter for Possible Spin-Off
by Kimberly Roots
2/22/13


"Once Upon a Time‘s" Mad Hatter may soon get an ABC tea party of his very own.

The network is thinking about spinning off the Alice in Wonderland-based character, who has appeared in six episodes of the fairytale drama, into his own series, according to our sister site Deadline.



The only problem: Portrayer Sebastian Stan is unavailable for a return and the potential new project, so the series is looking to recast the role.

Just last week, TVLine asked series creators Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis if Stan was due for an encore anytime soon; they said his schedule with the Broadway revival of Picnic prohibited it.

The new Hatter would be cast as a guest star with a series option, similar to what the show has done with Emile de Ravin, Meghan Ory and Colin O’Donoghue.

http://tvline.com/2013/02/22/once-upon-a-time-season-2-mad-hatter-spinoff-sebastian-stan/

Eddy Kitsis & Adam Horowitz’s "Once Upon a Time" Spinoff Set in Wonderland Takes Shape, Zack Estrin & Jane Espenson Join
by NELLIE ANDREEVA
Tuesday March 19, 2013


"Once Upon a Time" creators Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz are bringing in top-notch writer-producers to help them mount a proposed "Once" spinoff for ABC and ABC Studios.

The studio is closing overall deals with "Prison Break" alum Zack Estrin and "Once" consulting producer Jane Espenson that would cover their services on the spinoff.



Details about the spinoff are being kept under wraps but I have learned that it takes place in Wonderland. While the original idea was to use "Once‘s" character of Mad Hatter to transition to the new world, that plan was ultimately dropped.

I hear the story will now be told through the point of of view of Alice, who has not appeared on "Once", surrounded by several new characters.



According to a casting breakdown released last week, they are Amahl, described as exotic, soulful and optimistic; and The Knave, a sardonic adventurer, a man of action, a loner and a heart-breaker.

The spinoff takes place in a post-curse world, though, like on "Once", there will be flashbacks, so we could potentially see familiar faces, including Barbara Hershey’s recently departed Cora, who was the Queen Of Hearts in "Once‘s" Wonderland.







I hear the idea is to air the spinoff in 13-episode season arcs with a beginning, middle and end, similar to FX’s "American Horror Story", possibly bridging the fall and spring portions of "Once".

Kitsis and Horowitz handpicked Estrin and Espenson to help them with the spinoff after the two pitched the idea to ABC topper Paul Lee and got a thumbs-up. Kitsis and Horowitz are currently writing a 15-20 page, four-scene presentation with input from Estrin and Espenson.

Production is slated to begin April 7 in Vancouver, immediately following the season wrap of "Once" there.



If the project goes to series, Estrin is expected to run it with Kitsis and Horowitz, while Espenson, who has been a key member of "Once’s" writing staff since after the pilot, will likely return to the flagship drama, which Kitsis and Horowitz will continue to run.

It is not clear how the "Once" spinoff would affect NBC’s modern-day "Wonderland" pilot from Anthony Zuiker, which was pushed off-cycle before ABC’s plans for a Wonderland-set "Once" spinoff surfaced.







"Once Upon a Time" is one of ABC’s top series and a big DVR performer.

Season to date, the fairytale drama has averaged 2.98 rating among adults 18-49 in Live+Same Day and 4.34 in Live+7, a 43% jump.

http://www.deadline.com/2013/03/eddy-kitsis-adam-horowitzs-once-upon-a-time-spinoff-set-in-wonderland-takes-shape-zack-estrin-jane-espenson-join/

"Once Upon a Time" Spinoff Enlists "Being Human" Star as Knave of Hearts
3/28/2013
by Lesley Goldberg


ABC's "Once Upon a Time" spinoff presentation has enlisted its first castmember.

The Alice in Wonderland-themed entry has enlisted Michael Socha as the Knave of Hearts, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.





The Knave is described as a sardonic adventurer, a man of action, loner and heartbreaker -- the proverbial rolling stone. His swagger isn't quite enough to disguise the fact that he is unswervingly loyal and possessed of a strong moral code.

The Knave of Hearts is first mentioned in Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, where he is on trial for burglary. Alice eventually defends the Knave after she is called as a witness.

Crispin Glover played the role in Tim Burton's feature.





The "Once" team -- including Jane Espenson and Zero Hour's Zack Estrin -- will shoot a short "teaser" presentation in April and, should it move to pilot, shoot that in late July or August.

Casting is under way to fill other roles including Alice and the mysterious Amahl, with the White Rabbit likely to be animated with a voiceover.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/once-a-time-spinoff-enlists-431598

"Once Upon a Time" Spinoff "Wonderland" Casts its Alice
3/28/2013
by Lesley Goldberg


ABC's "Once Upon a Time" pilot presentation -- now called "Once: Wonderland" -- has cast its Alice.

English-born Australian actress Sophie Lowe has landed the Alice role in the network's Alice in Wonderland-themed spinoff, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Additionally, relative newcomer Peter Gadiot has been cast as Alice's mysterious love interest, Cyrus, in the project from Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz.

Michael Socha's casting was announced earlier as the Knave of Hearts.



Lowe's Alice is described as young but having lived a hard and long life and carrying those scars on her psyche. Underneath it all, she has a generous heart that she tries to keep hidden.

Gadiot's Cyrus, meanwhile, will play Alice's love interest with a background shrouded in mystery.

Still to be cast are the mysterious Amahl and the White Rabbit, which will likely be animated with voiceover.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/once-a-time-spinoff-wonderland-alice-431653

Emma Rigby Cast in ABC’s "Once Upon a Time" Spinoff as Red Queen
by NELLIE ANDREEVA
Wednesday April 3, 2013


British actress Emma Rigby (Hollyoaks) has joined ABC’s "Once Upon a Time" spinoff, which is now titled "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" (previously Once: Wonderland).

The presentation, from "Once Upon a Time" creators Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, is set in pre-curse Wonderland. The story is told through the point of view of Alice (Sophie Lowe) who has a generous heart but carries the scars of a long hard life.

She is joined by Cyrus (Peter Gadiot), Alice’s love interest, and the Knave of Hearts (Michael Socha), a sardonic adventurer.





Rigby will play the Red Queen, a character based on the playing card that originated in the novel Through The Looking Glass by Alice In Wonderland author Lewis Carroll.

In the book, the Red Queen aka Iracebeth, has a short temper and is merciless against her enemies and those who have betrayed her.





The four-scene "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" presentation is slated to begin filming April 7 in Vancouver, immediately following the wrap of "Once‘s" Season 2 there.

http://www.deadline.com/2013/04/emma-rigby-joins-abcs-once-upon-a-time-spinoff/

Paul Reubens To Voice The White Rabbit in ABC’s Wonderland-Themed "Once Upon a Time" Spinoff, Ralph Hemecker to Direct
by NELLIE ANDREEVA
Thursday April 4, 2013


One of Alice in Wonderland‘s signature characters, The White Rabbit, is hopping to ABC’s "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland", and it will be voiced by Paul Reubens.

Reubens, best known for his alter ego of Pee-Wee Herman, has joined the cast of the "Once Upon a Time" spinoff presentation, which will be directed by frequent "Once" director Ralph Hemecker.



The choice of Hemecker as director is not surprising as he helmed the two "Once" episodes that prominently featured Wonderland, last season’s 'Hat Trick' and this season’s 'Queen of Heart', which introduced Cora as the Queen.

Hemecker has directed a total of 7 "Once" episodes, including the second season premiere.



The four-scene "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" presentation is slated to begin filming later this week in Vancouver, immediately following the wrap of "Once‘s" Season 2 there.

"Once" EPs Kitsis, Horowitz and Steve Pearlman executive produce, with Zack Estrin and "Once" consulting producer Jane Espenson also involved.

http://www.deadline.com/2013/04/paul-reubens-to-voice-the-white-rabbit-in-abcs-wonderland-themed-once-spinoff/