We’ve known for a while now that Angelina Jolie is donning black horns and killer cheekbones to play the title character in the live-action Disney film Maleficent. But the only info we’ve really had about the film itself is that it would be about the Sleeping Beauty villain and tell the famous fairy tale from her perspective. Well now, thanks to an official synopsis and a surprise appearance by Jolie at D23 Expo, we know a bit more. Head behind the cut for more on the film and Jolie’s thoughts on playing the iconic villainess and scaring little children in the process.
First, the official synopsis, via /Film:
“Maleficent” is the untold story of Disney’s most iconic villain from the 1959 classic “Sleeping Beauty.” A beautiful, pure-hearted young woman, Maleficent has an idyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army threatens the harmony of the land. Maleficent rises to be the land’s fiercest protector, but she ultimately suffers a ruthless betrayal—an act that begins to turn her pure heart to stone. Bent on revenge, Maleficent faces an epic battle with the invading king’s successor and, as a result, places a curse upon his newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Maleficent realizes that Aurora holds the key to peace in the kingdom—and perhaps to Maleficent’s true happiness as well.
Speaking about the film, Jolie said that it would have “an edge, and something sexy and darker… [but] we still had to stay true to the original.” That last part is evidenced by the clip that played at D23, of Maleficent crashing Aurora’s (Elle Fanning) christening. According to HitFix it’s pretty much a remake of that same scene from the animated movie; hopefully Disney will release it to the general populace soon so we can see Jolie vamp it up. She does a pretty good job of being a villain, at least as far a certain demographic is concerned. Said the actress:
“People would bring their kids to set and I would be like, ‘Oh, I’m a Disney character,’ so I’d go over to see them, and they would scream. One kid said, ‘Mommy, tell the witch to stop talking to me!’… [Jolie’s daughter] Vivienne was the only 4-year-old who didn’t scream when she saw me.”
I kind of can’t wait to see this movie, and the supporting cast isn’t helping my anticipation level any. In addition to Fanning and Vivienne, who’s playing a young version of Aurora, we have Sharlto Copley as Aurora’s father King Stefan; Juno Temple, Imelda Staunton, and Lesley Manville as the three fairies; Miranda Richardson as Queen Ulla, a fairy queen who doesn’t like her niece Maleficent; Sam Riley as Diaval, Maleficent’s raven helper who can shape-shift into a human; and none other than the twelfth Doctor, Peter Capaldi, as one King Kinloch. Newcomers Brenton Thwaites and India Eisley are set to play Prince Phillip and a teenage Maleficent, respectively.
We’ll have to wait until July 2, 2014 to see all these amazing people on-screen together, though. Please, please, please let it be better than the recent live-action Alice in Wonderland.
(via: /Film, HitFix, Collider)
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