Starting out as a stage play, which turned into a classic book, later to become a Disney masterpiece, is the story of boy who never grew up, known as Peter Pan. All boys wish to be him, while grownups aspire for his youth. He travels back and forth from London to Neverland, rescuing his one true love, Wendy. But what is it specifically about this character that makes him so iconic, that he has remained in public consciousness for so long (and in so many forms)? YAMag charts the course of Peter’s flight, from his inception as a character created by J.M. Barrie, all the way through to today’s attention-getting Peter in Once Upon a Time, adoringly played by Robbie Kay.
While a popular view for Peter Pan’s beginnings revolves around J.M. Barrie’s involvement with a family of four fatherless boys, one named Peter, others believe Peter was inspired by Barrie’s older brother, who died of an ice skating accident the day before his 14th birthday, living forever thereafter as a young boy. Finding Neverland is a film about the writer, played by Johnny Depp, and it takes the former viewpoint. The Little White Bird, written by Barrie in 1902, made the first reference to the boy, and in the film Depp shows how Barrie got most of his inspiration from the family he felt a part of.
Rewinding to 1953, Walt Disney’s 14th animated feature was none other than Peter Pan, voiced by Bobby Driscoll. This time, Peter sings about the second star to the right, and fights for Wendy’s safety against the evil Captain Hook. When Tinker Bell rescues Peter Pan from drinking poison, and dies in his stead, she is looked at as a heroine for the ages. This film, more than others, secured Peter’s place as a hallmark character in the tradition of American folklore and pop culture.
In 1991, the boy who never grows up does, in Steven Spielberg’s classic Hook. Married to Wendy Darling’s granddaughter, Peter (played by the legendary Robin Williams) heads to London on a family trip to visit their grandmother. One night Peter and his wife go out and return to find that their children have been kidnapped by Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman) and his sidekick Smee (Bob Hoskins). Peter is told that he is the real Peter Pan, and that in order to save his family, he must fight the evil Captain. Along the way Julia Roberts shows up as Tinker Bell and saves the day once again, but this time she’s in love with the once young Prince of Neverland.
Disney has gone full force with Neverland, in both Disney Junior’s Jake and the Neverland Pirates and ABC’s Once Upon a Time. In Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Jake is just a boy and the leader of his gang, and all they want to do is have fun. Captain Hook, on the other hand, is in search of the island’s buried treasure. Hook shows up constantly, raining on their parade, like villains tend to do. Even though Peter Pan only makes guest appearances on this children’s network show, Jake (voiced by cutie Colin Ford) truly captures Peter’s essence and doesn’t give in to any of Captain Hook’s many schemes, like any Wiley Coyote/Road Runner or Tom/Jerry cartoon should.
Which brings us to the most recent, and most popular incarnation of Peter Pan. Last season on Once Upon a Time, creators Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis introduced us to that same iconic character, Captain Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) now in cahoots with the Evil Queen’s mother, Cora (Barbara Hershey), both trying to return to Storybrooke for their own personal gain. Cora had other plans, but Hook’s pursuit was to get rid of Rumplestiltskin, or known to Hook as ‘the Crocodile,’ for chewing off his hand. Later the two become allies and together return to Neverland to save Henry, Rumplestiltskin’s grandson. When Henry arrives in Neverland he is taken in by the iconic legend, Peter Pan. Only this Peter Pan is very different than the others; he’s a bad guy (!) and only interested in himself. Most stories portray Pan as the fun loving boy who tries to save others from the prospect of their miserable adulthood, but this Peter only wants to live forever and doesn’t care who gets killed in the process.
With a lot of heart, actor Robbie Kay plays Peter to the hilt, telling it like it is. He puts his foot where it doesn’t belong and tells off anyone to get in his way. If you watch Once Upon a Time (now in its 3rd season), which you should, you’ll see that this Peter Pan IS the ultimate Peter Pan. Robbie Kay was made for this role. From his clothes to his sword, from the words he spits out to the sly looks that say ‘back off or else’, you believe him and go wherever he takes you. Just hold hands and fly.
While a popular view for Peter Pan’s beginnings revolves around J.M. Barrie’s involvement with a family of four fatherless boys, one named Peter, others believe Peter was inspired by Barrie’s older brother, who died of an ice skating accident the day before his 14th birthday, living forever thereafter as a young boy. Finding Neverland is a film about the writer, played by Johnny Depp, and it takes the former viewpoint. The Little White Bird, written by Barrie in 1902, made the first reference to the boy, and in the film Depp shows how Barrie got most of his inspiration from the family he felt a part of.
Rewinding to 1953, Walt Disney’s 14th animated feature was none other than Peter Pan, voiced by Bobby Driscoll. This time, Peter sings about the second star to the right, and fights for Wendy’s safety against the evil Captain Hook. When Tinker Bell rescues Peter Pan from drinking poison, and dies in his stead, she is looked at as a heroine for the ages. This film, more than others, secured Peter’s place as a hallmark character in the tradition of American folklore and pop culture.
In 1991, the boy who never grows up does, in Steven Spielberg’s classic Hook. Married to Wendy Darling’s granddaughter, Peter (played by the legendary Robin Williams) heads to London on a family trip to visit their grandmother. One night Peter and his wife go out and return to find that their children have been kidnapped by Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman) and his sidekick Smee (Bob Hoskins). Peter is told that he is the real Peter Pan, and that in order to save his family, he must fight the evil Captain. Along the way Julia Roberts shows up as Tinker Bell and saves the day once again, but this time she’s in love with the once young Prince of Neverland.
Disney has gone full force with Neverland, in both Disney Junior’s Jake and the Neverland Pirates and ABC’s Once Upon a Time. In Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Jake is just a boy and the leader of his gang, and all they want to do is have fun. Captain Hook, on the other hand, is in search of the island’s buried treasure. Hook shows up constantly, raining on their parade, like villains tend to do. Even though Peter Pan only makes guest appearances on this children’s network show, Jake (voiced by cutie Colin Ford) truly captures Peter’s essence and doesn’t give in to any of Captain Hook’s many schemes, like any Wiley Coyote/Road Runner or Tom/Jerry cartoon should.
Which brings us to the most recent, and most popular incarnation of Peter Pan. Last season on Once Upon a Time, creators Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis introduced us to that same iconic character, Captain Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) now in cahoots with the Evil Queen’s mother, Cora (Barbara Hershey), both trying to return to Storybrooke for their own personal gain. Cora had other plans, but Hook’s pursuit was to get rid of Rumplestiltskin, or known to Hook as ‘the Crocodile,’ for chewing off his hand. Later the two become allies and together return to Neverland to save Henry, Rumplestiltskin’s grandson. When Henry arrives in Neverland he is taken in by the iconic legend, Peter Pan. Only this Peter Pan is very different than the others; he’s a bad guy (!) and only interested in himself. Most stories portray Pan as the fun loving boy who tries to save others from the prospect of their miserable adulthood, but this Peter only wants to live forever and doesn’t care who gets killed in the process.