First Look at Angelina Jolie as ‘Maleficent’

On June 13th, Disney finally started production on the live action Sleeping Beauty spin-off, Maleficent, a film about one of the most famous Disney villains of all time.  Along with the production start announcement, Disney released their first look at Angelina Jolie in character and so far she looks really good.

I can’t say how the film is going to turn out but I’m a big fan of the cast (Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Miranda Richardson, Juno Temple, and Lesley Manville) and I like the idea of an entire film being devoted to the villain rather than the typical heroine.  Oscar winning production designer Robert Stromberg is making his directorial debut with this film so there is a good chance we are going to get a visual treat even if the story is a bomb.  Anyway, take a look at Jolie below along with the full press release if you want further details on the film.

Burbank, CA  (June 19, 2012) – The Walt Disney Studios announced today that production began Wednesday, June 13th, on “Maleficent,” starring Academy Award®–winning actress Angelina Jolie.

            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”).

            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.

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.