Adam Horowitz: “Hook is excited to progress that relationship. At the same time, he is on his path of redemption, and we are going to see Hook doing his best to be heroic this year.”
I think Hook will be so desperate to prove to Emma that “he’s a hero now” that he’ll also drink the same potion that Regina and Dr. Jekyll did, thereby splitting himself in two. So there will essentially be two characters Colin is playing: Hook vs. Killian. (The writers would so love to have not just one but two Hooks since it seems that they aren’t able to contain themselves when it comes to the pirate).
Maybe; it’s certainly possible. But I see something different. For the writers, in Emma’s eyes, Hook is already a hero and doesn’t need to prove anything. The writers think they took care of that issue/tension back in S5 (both A and B) so I think they’ll contrast past! Hook (with Captain Nemo) and Present! Hook with Present!Hook being the “in the know” voice about battling your more evil self while Regina tries to figure out how to join together with the EQ again and stay true to her new redeemed self. It gives the writers a chance to have Past!Pirate! Hook, have Conflicted!Hook, Wise!Hook, and LoveyDovey!Emma who will stroke Hook’s ego by assuring him that he’s come a long way