'Maleficent'

[ShrunkenNed]

And now, according to this Deadline Article, Maleficent has been given a releases date of March 14, 2014!

[Tom Morrow]

Maleficent casting

Eisley set as Jolie's mini-'Maleficent' Variety Showblitz India Eisley is set to play a younger version of Angelina Jolie’s character in Disney’s 'Maleficent', Variety's Jeff Sneider reports (registration required). Live-action fantasy pic stars Jolie in the title role as Disney’s ultimate villainess. Eisley will play young Maleficent in the opening act. Sharlto Copley will co-star as Stefan, the half-human, half-fairy son of the human king (Kenneth Cranham). Supporting cast also includes Sam Riley as Maleficent’s right-hand man, Miranda Richardson as Maleficent’s regal aunt, and Brit thesps Imelda Staunton and Lesley Manville as pixies who care for Aurora. Veteran production designer Robert Stromberg is making his directorial debut from a script by Linda Woolverton, who wrote Disney’s billion-dollar grosser Alice in Wonderland. Disney will release the pic on March 14, 2014. by Todd Kushigemachi complete article

Submitted by Ezra

[Ezra]

There are, in fact, three good fairies. The Hollywood Reporter adds Juno Temple to the cast.

[Tom Morrow]

Maleficent’s young Prince cast

Disney Crowns Young Prince In ‘Maleficent’ Deadline New York Brenton Thwaites has been set as the prince in Maleficent, the Robert Stromberg-directed Disney film that stars Angelina Jolie as the title character and Elle Fanning as Princess Aurora. Who is Thwaites? He’s here from Australia, where he played a role in the Aussie TV series Home And Away, which got him the Lifetime Channel film Blue Lagoon: The Awakening. That film, which he shot with fellow Australian Indiana Evans, will be released next month. Before that he played in the TV drama SLiDE in Australia, which was his breakout role by Mike Fleming complete article

Submitted by Ezra

[Ezra]

Along with an official press release, Walt Disney Studios Publicity sent in the following photo:

Disney announces start of production on “Maleficent” Angelina Jolie starrer set for March 14, 2014 release Walt Disney Studios The Walt Disney Studios announced today that production began Wednesday, June 13th, on “Maleficent”, starring Academy Award®–winning actress Angelina Jolie. This is the untold story of Disney’s most beloved villain, Maleficent, from the 1959 classic “Sleeping Beauty”. The film reveals the events that hardened her heart and drove her to curse the baby, Aurora. Directed by two-time Oscar®-winning production designer Robert Stromberg (“Avatar”, “Alice in Wonderland”), in his directorial debut, and produced by Joe Roth, “Maleficent” is written by Linda Woolverton (“The Lion King”, “Beauty and the Beast”) and executive produced by Angelina Jolie, Don Hahn, Matt Smith and Palak Patel. Co-starring in the film are Sharlto Copley (“District 9”), Elle Fanning (“Super 8”), Sam Riley (“On the Road”), Imelda Staunton (“Vera Drake”), Miranda Richardson (“The Hours”), Juno Temple (“Atonement”) and Lesley Manville (“Secrets & Lies”). Behind-the-scenes talent includes Academy Award®–winning cinematographer Dean Semler (“Dances with Wolves”, “In the Land of Blood and Honey”), production designer Gary Freeman (“Saving Private Ryan”, “The Bourne Supremacy”), two-time Oscar® nominated costume designer Anna B. Sheppard (“Schindler’s List”, “The Pianist”) and seven-time Academy Award–winning makeup artist Rick Baker (“Planet of the Apes”, “Men in Black”). “Maleficent” is scheduled for a March 14, 2014 release in 3D. Walt Disney Studios Publicity via DaddyB —

[Aurorasmiles]

My assumption is she turns green with envy?! Not a huge fan of Jolie, but I'm sure she'll do an amazing job!

[Horbigast]

Personally, I'm okay with Jolie just being pale instead of a cartoonish green color, especially if they're committing to bringing cartoon characters into reality. The picture of Jolie as Maleficent is more than just a costume test, it tells a bit of a story too. It has an eerie beauty to it, which is perfect for the character. I'm not much of an Angelina fan, but looking at that picture gives me the right kind of chills.

That said, I'm a bit worried here. Handing the directorial reigns to Stromberg is a huge risk. He has tons of experience in visual effects, but this is literally his first kick at the can in directing, and who knows if he's any good at it? The film is certain to have a wonderful look to it, and Rick Baker will make sure the makeup is top notch, but a little Disney flick called the Haunted Mansion had those advantages too, and we all know how disappointing that was.

Of paramount importance of course, will be the script. In my perspective (and risking opening a Pandora's Box of debate here), Maleficent is the Darth Vader of Disney Villains, in that she's probably the most compelling and intimidating of them all. It always struck me when, upon Maleficent's appearance at the baby Princess Aurora's presentation, the Queen addresses her as "Your Excellency." The Queen of the realm. Calls Maleficent "Your Excellency". Not just that, but in a hesitant, prostrate manner. "...you're not offended, Your Excellency?" This is NO way for the Queen to speak to anyone who's not the King... or maybe the Pope. That moment subtly adds a tremendous weight to Maleficent's power in the film, long before we see her flex her magic muscles.

This film will put that all on the table, filling in a backstory which was left to our imaginations as Disney fans. If they don't do it right, they do with Maleficent what George Lucas did with Darth Vader. Just my opinion, but the approach that Lucas took with the backstory of Vader was fundamentally flawed from the beginning. Vader's descent to the dark side would have been much more compelling if he had started as the most pure and flawless of people. The new trilogy made me feel that Anakin didn't have far to fall.

If the script for Maleficent takes more of a Shakespearean tradgedy approach, with Maleficent being a sympathetic, yet fatally-flawed character this might work. Let's just hope that Stromberg and the writers learn from Lucas and avoid that particular problem.

[Executioner]

I think she looks amazing as Maleficant. I will give this movie a watch in theaters and see how it pans out.

[DisneyMommy403]

I'm not a huge fan of Jolie's - some movies I think she's great, other times I feel like all she's doing is trying to emphasize her pouting lips and try to look sexy... that being said... I hope she surprises me and works it with this one... being the most incredible evil villain she can be... the picture looks AMAZING.

[Ezra]

I'm concerned too. Mainly I'm concerned about modern attempts to give sociological reasons for what villians do. To giver her a broken home, a bad romance or a crushed dream just takes the fire out of it. For me, the reason that Maleficent is one of my favorite villians is that she's just plain wicked — period! It's devilishly fun to watch her. She clearly enjoys getting horrified reactions from those around her. She's gleeful in the cat-and-mouse tactics she takes with her victims. Why dispatch the infant princess now, when mood of the palace can be one of wary apprehension for the next seventeen years? She is a troublemaker just for the sheer fun of it! Her evil is the worst sort, because it's unmotivated: It can be unleashed on anyone without cause, under the flimsiest pretense of some small slight. The idea that you may actually cross paths with this kind of dangerous sociopath is truly terrifying.

[Horbigast]

I'm concerned too. Mainly I'm concerned about modern attempts to give sociological reasons for what villians do. To giver her a broken home, a bad romance or a crushed dream just takes the fire out of it. For me, the reason that Maleficent is one of my favorite villians is that she's just plain wicked — period! It's devilishly fun to watch her. She clearly enjoys getting horrified reactions from those around her. She's gleeful in the cat-and-mouse tactics she takes with her victims. Why dispatch the infant princess now, when mood of the palace can be one of wary apprehension for the next seventeen years? She is a troublemaker just for the sheer fun of it! Her evil is the worst sort, because it's unmotivated: It can be unleashed on anyone without cause, under the flimsiest pretense of some small slight. The idea that you may actually cross paths with this kind of dangerous sociopath is truly terrifying.

That's a very good point, Ezra. Maleficent is made more frightening without understanding what makes her evil, because you know there's no way you can act that will make you completely safe from her. A primal, elemental force of evil and cruelty.

[DisneyMommy403]

I totally agree Ezra! I don't want them to plot a story where you feel bad for her, or she starts out as a good person... I would be upset if they did that. I'd probably be sitting in the theater in disbelief that they took a VILLAIN who cursed a newborn and made them fluffy for a second. I'm really hoping the writers don't go soft with this one.

[Aurorasmiles]

I'm concerned too. Mainly I'm concerned about modern attempts to give sociological reasons for what villians do. To giver her a broken home, a bad romance or a crushed dream just takes the fire out of it. For me, the reason that Maleficent is one of my favorite villians is that she's just plain wicked — period! It's devilishly fun to watch her. She clearly enjoys getting horrified reactions from those around her. She's gleeful in the cat-and-mouse tactics she takes with her victims. Why dispatch the infant princess now, when mood of the palace can be one of wary apprehension for the next seventeen years? She is a troublemaker just for the sheer fun of it! Her evil is the worst sort, because it's unmotivated: It can be unleashed on anyone without cause, under the flimsiest pretense of some small slight. The idea that you may actually cross paths with this kind of dangerous sociopath is truly terrifying.

Ezra you are just too good! I love this post!! Maleficent really is just plain wicked.

[Superior_Xemnas]

found this if anybody is interested in reading.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...aleficent.html

[Ezra]

Another "competing projects" situation:

Sleeping Beauty comedy in the works from 21 Jump Street producer Neal Moritz

First it was Snow White films, then Oz... and now it's Sleeping Beauty movies.