Fifteen years ago, ABC took a magical gamble that paid off in spades. Once Upon a Time blended classic fairy tales with modern drama, creating a world where Snow White could shop at the local market and Captain Hook might steal your heart—literally and figuratively. Now, as rumors of a reboot swirl, two of its most beloved stars are finally speaking out.
At Calgary Expo, Colin O'Donoghue (Captain Hook) and Sean Maguire (Robin Hood) sat down with Collider to reflect on the seven-season fantasy epic and address the possibility of returning to Storybrooke. While both are open to the idea, one of them faces a bigger obstacle than the other.
The Robin Hood Problem
Maguire's Robin Hood met a tragic end in Season 5, making a revival tricky. “A little tougher for me,” Maguire joked. “I'd be like Coco—a skeleton.” Despite the grim humor, he remains hopeful that the show's magic could find a way. O'Donoghue, whose Captain Hook survived to the finale, was more measured: “I think it would depend if people wanted it.” He emphasized that Disney would need to see sustained fan interest before greenlighting any project.
The duo agreed that the series' greatest strength—its ability to introduce any character from folklore—leaves the door wide open. “What was great about Once Upon a Time was that they could bring in any character,” O'Donoghue said. “So maybe, yeah, maybe. I don't know if Captain Hook would be in it, but maybe.”
A New Chapter or a Fresh Start?
O'Donoghue previously revealed he's had conversations with co-creators Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz about writing a new chapter that picks up where the original left off. However, he's also open to passing the torch, as co-star Jennifer Morrison has suggested. Maguire, speaking for the fans, retorted, “It would be a damn shame if the Captain never sailed again. I'm not watching if he's not!”
If a reboot does happen, one obvious storyline involves Emma and Hook's daughter, Hope. When asked which parent Hope would take after, O'Donoghue laughed: “I would hope it would be Emma! Hook was a pretty nasty piece of work for a while.” But he added, “Yeah, probably Emma, with a little bit of rascalness in there as well.”
Why Now?
The fantasy landscape has changed since Once Upon a Time first aired. Shows like Apple TV's 'Imperfect Women' and other streaming hits have proven audiences still crave genre storytelling. With the series currently streaming on Disney+ and Hulu, a new generation is discovering the magic—and the original cast is ready to listen.
As O'Donoghue put it, the endless well of fairy tales and myths means the story never truly ends. Whether Captain Hook sails again or a new hero takes the helm, the possibility of returning to Storybrooke has never felt more real.
