The Truth Behind Jamie Dornan's Astonishing Comeback in Once Upon A Time

Summary

Jamie Dornan almost returned to Once Upon a Time, but a scheduling conflict prevented his character from reuniting with the cast.

Dornan's character, although beloved by fans, met his demise in season 1 and efforts to reintroduce him in season 3 proved fruitless. Despite the excitement it would have generated among fans, prioritizing his involvement in Fifty Shades of Grey proved to be a wiser career choice for Dornan rather than a fleeting comeback on Once Upon a Time.

Jamie Dornan was almost able to return to Once Upon a Time as Sheriff Graham, but a conflict in scheduling prevented his character from rejoining the cast. Despite the Dark Curse preventing Sheriff Graham from remembering his past as the Huntsman, flashbacks revealed his true identity. Dornan's portrayal of the charismatic Sheriff/Huntsman quickly gained a fan-following, especially after his noble refusal to kill Snow White. Unfortunately, this act of mercy led to his character's heartbreaking death in season 1, as the Evil Queen retaliated by crushing his heart. Despite attempts by the executive producers to bring him back in season 3, Dornan's return did not come to fruition.

Jamie Dornan's Huntsman Almost Returned In Once Upon A Time Season 3

Horowitz and Kitsis had a well-planned strategy in place for Jamie Dornan's comeback to Once Upon a Time, but their timing was not as well-calculated. Dornan had been absent from the show for two years by the time Season 3 rolled around, and his professional trajectory was leading him towards more significant roles. In fact, Dornan was unable to return to Once Upon a Time because he was occupied with preparing for his portrayal of CEO and kink expert Christian Grey in the film Fifty Shades of Grey.

In hindsight, it was arguably a wise decision for Dornan to prioritize Fifty Shades of Grey over rejoining the Once Upon a Time cast. Despite later admitting to having reservations about the Fifty Shades franchise, Dornan's performance as Christian Grey propelled him to mainstream fame. It resulted in his continued involvement in the highly successful franchise and provided him with a much more substantial role than his character on Once Upon a Time ever offered. While his return to the fantasy TV series would have excited fans, it ultimately would have been short-lived and contributed far less to his career compared to the impact of Fifty Shades.

Once Upon A Time's Cut Plan For The Huntsman's Return

The producer originally intended to bring back Jamie Dornan for a short and emotional moment in Once Upon a Time. This would have happened in the season 3 finale, which included a time-travel storyline where the show's main character, Emma, along with Captain Hook, accidentally travels back in time to the Enchanted Forest. Horowitz and Kitsis wanted to show a reunion between Emma and Sheriff Graham, referencing their brief romance in season 1. As reported by Entertainment Weekly, Emma would have encountered Graham while she was imprisoned in the Evil Queen's castle.

"[Horowitz and Kitsis] desired a nostalgic moment reminiscent of Peggy Sue Got Married. In this hypothetical scenario, he would have portrayed one of the guards during that particular period. She would have caught a glimpse of him, causing her heart to ache with the desire to reach out to him. However, due to her mission, she would have been unable to do so. While this moment held emotional weight for [Horowitz and Kitsis], it did not come to fruition. Consequently, Dornan never made a full return to the series, aside from occasional appearances in archived footage. Although Dornan's comeback in season 3 could have thrilled Huntsman fans, it would have contributed little substance to the overall narrative of Once Upon a Time, and even less to the actor's career."

Source: Entertainment Weekly