'Once Upon a Time' casting for Belle's mom

Once Upon a Time is going to give us some dirt on Belle’s past next season.

 

“We are going to meet Belle’s mother,” executive producer Adam Horowitz tells EW. “For the first time, we’ll delve into Belle’s past pre-the encounter with Rumple.”

That means as we learn Belle’s history before meeting new hubby Rumplestiltskin, we’re finally going to find out who Sir Maurice was married to.

Who should play Belle’s mom in the upcoming fourth season of the ABC fairy tale drama? Lucy Lawless is our dream choice, though she hasn’t actually been cast. The Xena alum looks similar enough to Emilie de Ravin, and she’ll be guest-starring on another ABC drama this fall when she appears as Isabelle Hartley on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. If not Lawless, who do you think should play Belle’s mother?
 

Once Upon a Time returns Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. ET on AB