ABC’s Once Upon a Time sure knows how to mix it up. It wasn’t enough for one of the best fantasy dramas on TV to just head to Neverland in this latest season, but they also had to throw in appearances by Tinker Bell, Ariel, the Pied Piper, a Shadow voiced by Marilyn Manson, and a very twisted, evil Peter Pan. This isn’t the Pan you’ve come to know through years of reading J.M Barrie’s stories or watching Disney’s classic 1953 animated masterpiece. This is a dark, villainous Peter Pan played to perfection by eighteen-year-old Robbie Kay and we’re all about to find out what he has planned for the town on Storybrooke as it all unfolds on Once Upon a Time’s Winter finale this Sunday on ABC at 8PM. Parade sat down with Kay to discuss the finale, his future on the show, playing evil Peter Pan, and how he’d love to get a shot on Doctor Who.

Were you nervous about taking role of Evil Peter Pan because it’s so different than what people are used to seeing from the character?

It was certainly a daunting prospect to launch myself into this iconic character when it has such a different spin on it, in true Once Upon a Time nature. Obviously you see with many different characters they do have very different qualities that aren’t necessarily recognizable, and Pan in particular has that trait. He’s usually the protagonist and the hero and a character that a lot of children can really relate to, but Once Upon a Time has put a very different spin on it. I was very interested to see how that sort of character would develop and play out, so I felt very privileged to be able to take on that role, and it’s been very, very fun so far.

So it was more exciting for you than nerve-wracking.

Yeah, absolutely. I just thought it was such a fantastic opportunity that couldn’t be passed up on. I was actually rather nervous going into it though as well as excited. You’re going into a third season of a show where everyone is very much acquainted and integrated, so that was quite a daunting experience at first. But, obviously, everyone was very welcoming and everyone is used to seeing new faces pop in and out of the show as well.

Robbie Kay as 'Peter Pan' in Once Upon a Time (Courtesy of ABC/Jack Rowand)

What was it like in Neverland with that big group of young actors playing the Lost Boys? Was it just a non-stop party?

[Laughs] Sometimes it seemed like it, to be honest. There were a lot of great, really fun scenes. In episode four, we actually had a dancing troupe of Lost Boys that came in and they were all professional dancers. They were a great laugh and a lot of fun to have around. It’s just been a lot of fun, really. Especially working with the ensemble cast. They have such a great sense of humor and they’re all very dedicated to their work. They just want to do a good job, which is always refreshing.

You’ve essentially had to play two different characters this season. What was that like for you as an actor to have to make that transition mid-stream?

I’ll tell you what: It’s been so much fun. I love how in Once Upon a Time you get the opportunity to do things like that in contrast to other series where often you would be playing one character. I don’t know many people that can say they played two. That recent twist where Pan turned into Henry and Henry turned into Pan was very, very fun to play and actually quite refreshing at the same time. It was nice to not have to play the character that every single cast member hated and despised because he was so bad. [Laughs]

And they let you keep the accent when you switched over to Henry as well.

Yes! Yeah, that was again another interesting prospect. Obviously with the physicality of the bodies it sort of made sense for them to keep the way that they use language. It would have been interesting to have myself in an American accent and Jared [Gilmore] in an English one though.

Robbie Kay as 'Peter Pan' in Once Upon a Time (Courtesy of ABC/Jack Rowand)

I’m sure this Sunday’s winter finale is going to be huge and something big is going to happen, but will you be back when the show returns?

Well, I can’t say anything about the prospect of my character, so you’ll have to wait until Sunday (and then on March 9 when the season returns) to find out about that, but you’re right in saying that the winter finale is going to be a lot of fun. There are a lot of different scenarios that play out and this eleven-episode arc really comes to a climax, which will leave you very satisfied.

Let’s put it this way: If all the stars align, would you like to be back?

I would love to be back, to be honest. I’ve had such a fantastic experience that it would be great to continue it.

Robbie Kay filming a scene for Once Upon a Time (Courtesy of ABC/Jack Rowand)

You’ve done a bunch of film work, but this is your first TV show. Did the experience make you want to do more TV or are you ready to go back to film?

There are a lot of similarities with film and TV, but also a lot of differences, especially in the way they film stuff. I’ve had a great time getting to know people very well. That’s always been a quality in the film and television industry that I’ve loved the most. Probably one of my favorite things about the job is that you get to formulate fantastic relationships with people in a working environment so people are very much professional but, at the same time, they can be relaxed and all-around brilliant. It’s been really nice to spend a really long period of time with the same group of people to work on a show we all know and love. That’s been the best part about it, to be honest.

Are there any shows you’d just love to get a shot on after you’re finished with Once Upon a Time?

Oh, absolutely. When Breaking Bad was on, I would have loved to have been a part of that. Obviously The Walking Dead is ongoing. That’s another AMC show that’s very, very good. Actually, Doctor Who as well. I’ve followed that for a very long time and would love to potentially experience some sort of presence on that show as well, if the opportunity arises.

Once Upon a Time’s Winter finale airs this Sunday at 8PM on ABC.