"Maleficent," the upcoming film from Walt Disney Pictures, appears to be aiming to take a prominent place in the recent movie trend of dark fantasy and villainous redemption stories. Its screenplay comes from Linda Woolverton, who previously wrote the beloved Disney classic "the Lion King."

The new film is the directorial debut of Robert Stromberg, who was a production designer in the movies "Oz the Great and Powerful" and the latest "Alice in Wonderland" (also written by Woolverton). The movie is to be released in Disney Digital 3D, IMAX 3D, and RealD 3D formats and in traditional cinemas on May 30, 2014.

The Cast

  • Angelina Jolie is the self-professed "Mistress of all Evil," Maleficent
  • Ella Purnel and Isobelle Molloy are the young Maleficent
  • Sharito Copley is Aurora's father, King Stefan
  • Toby Regbo and Michael Higgins are the young Stefan
  • Elle Fanning is Sleeping Beauty, Princess Aurora
  • Vivienne Jolie-Pitt and Eleanor Worthington Cox are young Princess Aurora
  • Sam Riley is the human form of Diaval, the right-hand of Maleficent
  • Brenton Thwaites is the son of King Henry, Prince Phillip (arranged to wed Aurora)
  • Imelda Staunton is the pink pixie, Knotgrass
  • Juno Temple is the green pixie, Thistlewit
  • Lesley Manville is the blue pixie, Flittle
  • Miranda Richardson is Queen Ulla, ruler of the fairies' and Maleficent's aunt
  • Peter Capaldi is the fairies' king, uncle of Maleficent
  • Kenneth Cranham is King Henry
  • Angus Wright is the aide of King Henry
  • Hannah New is the mother of Princess Aurora, Queen Leila

The Plot 

"Maleficent" is the story of one of Disney's oldest and most notorious villains, who was previously brought to the screen in "Sleeping Beauty." The new movie explores why the title character became a villain and cursed Princess Aurora, a newborn baby, and eventually shows the dramatic consequences for Maleficent, the princess, and their land.

Despite her coldness, Maleficent is hinted in trailers to have honorable intentions as well as the spitefulness that led her to curse an innocent child, and returns to cooperate with Aurora years later, near the time when the irrevocable curse will take effect, when she discovers that the princess may be the key to achieving a widespread peace that Maleficent deeply desires.