PREMIERE

BRACE YOURSELF FOR A MODERN FABLE WITH THRILLING TWISTS AND HINTS OF DARKNESS, AS THE EPIC BATTLE FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR WORLD AND THE FAIRYTALE WORLD BEGINS, ON THE PREMIERE OF ABC'S "ONCE UPON A TIME"

Master storytellers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz ("Lost," "Tron: Legacy") invite you to brace yourself for a modern fairytale with thrilling twists and hints of darkness, brimming with wonder and filled with the magic of our most beloved stories, on the premiere of "Once Upon a Time," SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

And they lived happily ever after... or so everyone was led to believe. Emma Swan knows how to take care of herself. She's a 28-year-old bail bondsperson who's been on her own ever since she was abandoned as a baby. But when Henry -- the son she gave up years ago -- finds her, everything changes. Henry is now 10 years old and in desperate need of Emma's help. He believes that Emma actually comes from an alternate world and is Snow White and Prince Charming's missing daughter. According to his book of fairytales, they sent her away to protect her from the Evil Queen's curse, which trapped the characters of fairytale world forever, frozen in time, and brought them into our modern world.

In the premiere episode, "Pilot," not believing a word of Henry's story, Emma brings him back to Storybrooke, but finds herself drawn to this unusual boy and his strange New England town. Concerned for him, she decides to stay for a while, but soon comes to suspect that Storybrooke is more than it seems. It's a place where magic has been forgotten, but is still powerfully close...where fairytale characters are alive, even though they don't remember who they once were, and where the Evil Queen, known as Regina, is now Henry's foster mother. The epic battle for the future of all worlds is beginning, and for good to win, Emma will have to accept her destiny and fight like hell.

"Once Upon a Time" stars Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White/Mary Margaret, Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan, Robert Carlyle as Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold, Lana Parrilla as Evil Queen/Regina, Jared Gilmore as Henry Mills, Josh Dallas as Prince Charming/John Doe and Raphael Sbarge as Jiminy Cricket/Archie Hopper.

Guest starring in "Pilot" are Jamie Dornan as Sheriff Graham, Lee Arenberg as Grumpy/Leroy, David-Paul Grove as Doc, Peter Bryant as jailer, Tony Amendola as Geppetto/Marco, Meghan Ory as Ruby/Red Riding Hood, Warren Christie as Ryan, Beverley Elliott as Granny, Darren Dolynski as nervous guard, Keith Dallas as cabbie, Tom Pickett as bishop, Darla Fay as old woman, James Bamford as Black Knight and Keegan Connor Tracy as Blue Fairy.

"Pilot" was written by Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz and directed by Mark Mylod.

Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz are creators and executive producers of "Once Upon a Time." Steven Pearlman is also executive producer. The show is from ABC Studios.

"Once Upon a Time" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format with a 5.1 channel surround sound. This program carries a TV-PG,L,V parental guideline.

For more information on "Once Upon a Time," visit ABC.com