Disney has released the first poster for Malificent, the retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale from the evil queen’s point of view.
Angelina Jolie as the villain looks pretty spectacular, and that horned headdress is even more sinister in its leather and metal reincarnation than in the original 1959 animated version. Malificent is the first in a series of live-action adaptations of classic Disney stories that will hit theaters over the next few years — Cinderella and Cruella (the would-be puppy killer in 101 Dalmatians) are next on the docket.
The first trailer for Malificent will be released online this Wednesday, November 13. Jolie’s co-stars are Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton and Juno Temple.
The official synopsis (via Collider):
“From Disney comes Maleficent—the untold story of Disney’s most iconic villain from the 1959 classic Sleeping Beauty. A beautiful, pure-hearted young woman, Maleficent has an idyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army threatens the harmony of the land. Maleficent rises to be the land’s fiercest protector, but she ultimately suffers a ruthless betrayal—an act that begins to turn her pure heart to stone. Bent on revenge, Maleficent faces an epic battle with the invading king’s successor and, as a result, places a curse upon his newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Maleficent realizes that Aurora holds the key to peace in the kingdom—and perhaps to Maleficent’s true happiness as well.”
Wait a sec…this retelling sounds like there is some kind of redemption involved. Will we get to see Malificent transform into a giant dragon and be smote by Prince Phillip? Because that would be a damn awesome live-action scene.
Malificent opens May 30, 2014.
New ‘Malificent’ poster
In case you’ve forgotten about Malificent’s maliciousness in the original 1959 film, here are her best scenes:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15BUuwDe3p4]