Maleficent is Coming
Tuesday, June 19, 2012 at 8:32PM Production began on Maleficent (2014) today. A movie we're both totally in for and dreading for very different reasons simultaneously. Of course pre-production has long been afoot as this new photo of the incomparable Angelina Jolie as Disney's best villainess attests. Oscar nominated costume designer Anna B Sheppard (Schindler's List) has been hard at work (obviously) along with the makeup department in replicating the dangerously sharp cheekboned, horned devil look.
Angelina "Maleficent" Joliedglksg
The film will star Angelina as Maleficent and Fanning the Younger as Sleeping Beauty along with Sharlto Copley (District 9), Sam Riley (Control), some Mike Leigh regulars and Juno Temple. Most intriguing is the slightly unexpected production team which boasts Sheppard (best known for WW II era prestige dramas rather than fantasies) Dean Semler on cinematography (better known for westerns like Young Guns and Dances with Wolves than fantasies). Screenwriter Linda Woolverton who helped pen two Disney classics The Lion King and Beauty & The Beast has the script duties though we might have to worry about yet another "backstory" retelling. Doesn't anyone love the inherent mystery of iconic characters anymore? I know I do.
Reader Comments (6)
I'm kind of excited for this, I think Angelina looks fine, but I just can't get over the fact that her skin isn't green. What's that about?
If this weren't a back story it wouldn't be called Maleficent it would be called Sleeping Beauty and I don't want to see Sleeping Beauty. I'm way more interested in Maleficent's story, I just hope they don't make it cheesy/family friendly but a bit dark.
If I remember correctly Maleficent was born a fairy but turned "bad" after the other fairies (and people in the kingdom) banished her because they feared her powers.
That's the one thing I love about Maleficent, she's not some old maid jealous of the beautiful young girl, like in Cinderella or Snow White, she's pissed for a valid reason, and she has awesome powers. To add to that I believe it is implied that she gets away in the end, but I have to re-read it. This was Disney's darkest fairy tale and I hope they do it justice.
^
It's not going to happen, obviously, but wouldn't be great if they had other Hollywood big star names as the other fairies fearing her power: the trifecta of "good girls": Witherspoon, Adams and Goodwin, for instance? That would make it far far more interesting than just a star vehicle.
I'm more interested in the supporting cast of the film, I mean, Imelda Staunton, Miranda Richardson and Lesley Manville together is gonna be awesome!! I bet Angie will be too much OTT and will screw this up.
My Maleficent costume is also in pre-production for Halloween this year. :-)
Maleficent is coming to movie theaters in 2013 from Disney..I think Amanda Seyfried would do an amazing job at playing Sleeping Beauty!! her and Angelina together would make history!