‘Maleficent 2’ Begins Production, Michelle Pfeiffer And More Officially Join Cast
Production has finally begun on Disney’sMaleficent 2, the long-awaited sequel to theSleeping Beautyremake starringAngelina JolieandElle Fanning. With this production start news comes confirmation thatMichelle Pfeifferhas officially joined the cast, along with other new casting announcements.
Disney is finally ramping up production onMaleficent 2, and they’ve announced the full cast to boot. Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning will both be back as Maleficent and Princess Aurora, respectively.Michelle Pfeifferis also officially on board as a character named Queen Ingrith. Pfeiffer’s casting had previously been announced asin the works, and now it’s official. Other new cast members includeChiwetel Ejiofor,Ed Skrein,Robert Lindsay, andHarris Dickinsonas Prince Phillip.
Cast members returning from 2014’sMaleficentincludeSam Rileyas Diaval,Imelda Stauntonas the pixie Knotgrass;Juno Templeas the pixie Thistlewit, andLesley Manvilleas her character fromPhantom Thread. Oh, sorry, that was a mistake; she’s actually playing the pixie Flittle.
The sequel is described as “a fantasy adventure that picks up several years afterMaleficent, in which audiences learned of the events that hardened the heart of Disney’s most notorious villain and drove her to curse a baby Princess Aurora,Maleficent IIcontinues to explore the complex relationship between the horned fairy and the soon to be Queen, as they form new alliances and face new adversaries in their struggle to protect the moors and the magical creatures that reside within.”
Joachim Rønning, director ofPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, is helmingMaleficent 2.Linda WoolvertonandMicah Fitzerman-Blue&Noah Harpsterare writing the script.
The firstMaleficentwas a re-telling of Disney’sSleeping Beauty, told from the point-of-view of Maleficent, and presenting a more sympathetic side to the previously villainous character. That film came right around the time Disney was realizing they could make a fortune rebooting and remaking their animated films in live action. Tim Burton’s 2010 blockbusterAlice in Wonderlandkicked-off the trend, which continued withMaleficent, Kenneth Branagh’sAlice in Wonderland, Bill Condon’sBeauty and the Beastand Jon Favreau’sThe Jungle Book.
Coming up, Disney has live-action remakes ofMulan,Peter Pan,Dumbo,The Lion King(which isn’tquitelive-action, since it’ll feature entirely CGI creatures),Aladdin,Pinocchio,Lady and the Tramp, andThe Sword in the Stone. And then there are the films that will serve as sequels to their animated movies, likeChristopher RobinandPrince Charming. I’m sure there will be more to come.
