Disney’s Maleficent sequel receives an official title - Maleficent: Mistress of Evil - and release date in October 2019. The upcoming fantasy film began filming last May and wrapped production in August. Directed by Joachim Rønning, the sequel stars Angelina Jolie in a reprisal role, along with Elle Fanning as Princess Aurora, otherwise known as Sleeping Beauty. 

In 2014, Walt Disney Pictures released Maleficent, a dark fantasy film told from the antagonist’s point of view. Produced for an estimated $180-263 million, the loose adaptation earned more than $758 million at the box office while receiving mixed reviews from critics. At the 87th Annual Academy Awards, Maleficent was nominated for Best Costume Design, and won People’s Choice Awards for both Favorite Movie and Favorite Family Movie. Linda Woolverton wrote Maleficent’s screenplay, and she also co-wrote the sequel in collaboration with Noah Harpster (Transparent) and Micah Fitzerman-Blue.

Per Disney, Maleficent’s sequel will be titled Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, and will be released nationwide on Oct. 18. In addition to Jolie and Fanning, original cast members Sam Riley, Juno Temple, Lesley Manville, and Imelda Staunton are also returning. In a new supporting role, Michelle Pfeiffer will portray Queen Ingrith and Deadpool’s Ed Skrein will portray a villain. Harris Dickinson and Chiwetel Ejiofor have also been confirmed as new cast members for Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. Here’s the sequel’s synopsis along with the film’s teaser poster:

For Jolie, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil marks her first on-screen character performance since the original 2014 film. Since then, the famous actress-humanitarian has voiced Master Tigress in Kung Fu Panda 3, and also produced acclaimed films such as the documentary First They Killed My Father and animated feature The Breadwinner, with the latter receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature at the 2018 Academy Awards. Jolie also voiced the character Stella in Walt Disney’s fantasy film The One and Only Ivan. Jolie’s Maleficent: Mistress of Evil co-star Fanning recently appeared in the 2018 films I Think We’re Alone Now (alongside Game of Thrones’ Peter Dinklage), Galveston, and Teen Spirit. Later this year, she’ll appear in the Netflix drama romance film All the Bright Places, which is based on Jennifer Niven’s 2015 young adult novel. 

A fantasy adventure that picks up several years after “Maleficent,” 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 II” continues to explore the complex relationship between the horned fairy (Angelina Jolie) and the soon to be Queen (Elle Fanning), as they form new alliances and face new adversaries in their struggle to protect the moors and the magical creatures that reside within.

Now that Maleficent’s sequel has an official title, the marketing campaign will surely ramp up during the spring and summer. Given how the original film resonated with families, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil will be a popular pre-Halloween event for Disney fans. 

More: Ranking The Disney Renaissance Films

Source: Disney

  • Maleficent 2 Release Date: 2019-10-18