Monday, April 21, 2014

The Enduring Appeal Of "Maleficent"

A new featurette is online for Disney's highly anticipated fantasy "Maleficent". The piece talks about the lasting legacy of the story.


Written by Linda Woolverton the film takes "Sleeping Beauty" and switches the focus to the evil Queen (Angelina Jolie) of the story. The story "reveals the events that hardened her heart and drove her to curse the baby, Aurora (Vivienne Jolie-Pitt)".

Elle Fanning would play the older version of the somnolent Princess Aurora Miranda Richardson is set for the part of Queen Ulla, who has a less than peachy relationship with her niece Maleficent. India Eisley will appear in the first act of Maleficent as a younger version of Jolie’s character, establishing her place in the fairy kingdom’s hierarchy. Imelda Staunton and Lesley Manville , meanwhile, will play Knotgrass and Flittle. They comprise two of the three pixies who take care of Aurora. Sam Riley has been cast as Diaval, Maleficent’s right-hand man — or rather, right-hand raven who can take human form. Sharlto Copley will play King Stefan. Aussie actor Brenton Thwaites is playing the handsome Prince. Kenneth Cranham co-stars.

"Avatar" and "Alice in Wonderland" production designer Robert Stromberg directed the film.

Filmmaker John Lee Hancock ("The Blind Side," "Saving Mr. Banks") was brought in to help with some reshoots. Hancock wrote several new scenes that were shot and he will oversee with Stromberg.

Don Hahn Joe Roth and the late Richard D. Zanuck produce the film.

"Maleficent" is set to arrive in theaters on May 30th, 2014.

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