There are some big changes in store for Once Upon A Time in season 3.

Once Upon A Time centers on the town of Storybrooke, where every fairy tale character lives, secluded from the rest of the world.  In season 2, the town faced trials as people from this world started investigating the town.  The problems kept piling up as old enemies from the Enchanted Forest also began travelling to Storybrooke.

The season 2 finale left the viewers in suspense as many of the characters make their way to Neverland in search of the kidnapped Henry (Jared Gilmore).   According to Huffington Post,  at the ATX Television Festival, creators Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis revealed some of what is in store for season 3.

The season will start off directly where season 2 ended.  Many of the show’s main characters are stationed on the Jolly Roger, on their way to Neverland.  Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison) and Captain Hook (Colin O’Donoghue), who many fans are asking: will there be romance in this pair’s future?  At the festival, Kitsis responded the this query with, “The thing I liked about Captain Hook in the finale is, he started to look back on his life and was like, ‘Maybe I’ve wasted it?’ …So who knows?”

Similarly, audiences wonder about the fate of Rumplestiltskin (Robert Carlyle) and his “true love” Belle (Emilie de Ravin). Rumple is one of the characters aboard the Jolly Roger, while Belle remains in Storybrooke.  The couple has faced many challenges throughout season 2, and now they are separated after Rumple left, partially so that he could protect her, partially because he might finally be doing the right thing. Their relationship is currently up in the air.

Season 3 is going to be a game changer.  At the festival, Kitsis warned, “This whole Neverland experience is going to force all the characters to become who they truly are.”

Season 3 will have a different airing format than the previous seasons.  Huffington Post reports that the season will be split into two sections.  The first 11 episodes will air in the fall, the second 11 episodes will air in the spring.  Each half will be treated like individual seasons. Each half is a very focused, contained beginning, middle and end journey for these characters.