Maleficent (film series) explained

Disney's Maleficent
Owner:The Walt Disney Company
Origin:Maleficent (2014)
Video Games:Maleficent Free Fall
Books:The Curse of Maleficent: The Tale of a Sleeping Beauty

Maleficent is a Disney media franchise that began in 2014 with the theatrical release of Maleficent.

Premise

The film series takes inspiration from the 1959 animated classic, Sleeping Beauty, but from the perspective of the villainous Maleficent, where she's adapted as protector and the most powerful fairy of the Moors, who, in revenge for betrayal, casts a curse on the daughter of her ex-lover King Stefan and Aurora. Over the course of the film, she goes from a hero to villain, following Stefan's betrayal, and back to hero due to maternal feelings she develops towards Aurora.

Feature films

Film(s)Director(s)Producer(s)Screenwriter(s)ComposerEditor(s)Cinematographer
MaleficentRobert StrombergJoe RothLinda WoolvertonJames Newton HowardChris Lebenzon and Richard PearsonDean Semler
Joachim RønningLinda Woolverton, Noah Harpster and Micah Fitzerman-BlueGeoff ZanelliHenry Braham

Maleficent (2014)

See main article: Maleficent (film). Maleficent is a live-action adaptation/retelling of 1959's animated film Sleeping Beauty, from the eponymous antagonist.[1] In 2003,[2] during Don Hahn's meeting with Disney's animation department, it was suggested to create an origin film about Maleficent from Disney's animated film Sleeping Beauty in the same vein as then just released Broadway musical Wicked.[3] The film was originally conceived as animated, but, according to Hahn, it was "too difficult", so it was decided to go for a live-action approach instead.[4] In 2005, Hahn met with Tim Burton to pitch him several projects for Disney, including Maleficent, which Burton agreed to helm,[5] but did not start working on it until around the summer of 2009,[6] when he was finishing Alice in Wonderland (2010). Around the same time, Hahn approached Linda Woolverton, with whom he had previously worked on Beauty and the Beast (1991) and The Lion King (1994), to write the script, and in March 2010 she officially joined the project, while the studio began negotiations with Angelina Jolie to star as Maleficent.[7] Burton personally supervised the development of the film for six months to a year, until in May 2011 it was announced that he had left the project due to his commitments to Frankenweenie (2012) and Dark Shadows (2012).[8] [9] Following Burton's departure, the studio considered David Yates, Darren Aronofsky,[10] and David O. Russell to take over as director.[11] Guillermo del Toro also expressed a desire to direct the film, citing Sleeping Beauty (1959) as one of his three favorite Disney films.[12] In September 2011, Joe Roth joined the project as a producer,[13] and in January 2012 it was announced that Robert Stromberg, the production designer of Avatar (2009), Alice in Wonderland (2010) and Oz the Great and Powerful (2013), would helm the project in his directional debut.[14] A month later, during the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival, Jolie officially confirmed her involvement in the project.[15]

Linda Woolverton's screenplay went through at least 15 versions as the film progressed in production.[16] Stromberg said: "I met many times with Linda Woolverton, the writer. We did lots of roundtable discussions and sort of cut out the fat as much as we could and sort of purified the storyline as much as we could".[17] Paul Dini also performed rewrites on the project with Stromberg,[18] and was credited in early press.[19] [20] In some earlier versions of the story, Stefan was the half-human, half-fairy bastard son of King Henry. The version of the screenplay that went into shooting originally included two characters called Queen Ulla and King Kinloch, the fairy queen and fairy king of the Moors and the aunt and uncle of Maleficent.[21] Miranda Richardson and Peter Capaldi were cast and shot the Queen Ulla and King Kinloch scenes, but their roles were cut in the editing process together with more than 15 minutes of the first act of the film. Stromberg said, "We spent a bit more time originally in the fairy world before we got into the human side of things ... we wanted to get it [the film] under two hours. So we cut about 15 minutes out of the first act, and then that had to be seamed together with some pretty basic reshoots."[22]

Stromberg later claimed in an interview that he employed an "age-old" emotional storytelling for the film and called it "the biggest thrill" against all technology advances.[23] "And the way we play with that is we have somebody who's perhaps in love but betrayed and doesn't believe that true love exists. So the moral to it is we can all feel dark ourselves but not to lose hope because there is light in places where we might not be expecting", he explained.[23] Principal photography began on June 13, 2012, at Pinewood Studios.[24] [25] Some filming took place in the Buckinghamshire countryside near Turville.[26]

The film was originally slated for a March 14, 2014 release,[27] before it was changed to July 2, 2014.[28] On September 18, 2013, the film's release date was preponed to May 30, 2014, as Pixar's The Good Dinosaur faced production issues and delayed to 2015.[29] In the United Kingdom, the film was released on May 28, 2014.[30]

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)

See main article: Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is the sequel of the 2014 film Maleficent, continuing the story of the first film.[31] The film was released on October 18, 2019.[32] On June 3, 2014, following the release of the first film, Angelina Jolie hinted that a sequel to Maleficent was a possibility.[33] On June 15, 2015, Walt Disney Pictures announced that the sequel was in the works and that Linda Woolverton would return to write the screenplay for the film.[34] Although Jolie's return to the sequel was not yet certain, the script was intended to be written with her in mind. In addition, Joe Roth was reported to return as producer of the film. On April 25, 2016, Disney officially confirmed Jolie's return as the title character.[35] On August 29, 2017, it was reported that Jez Butterworth would rewrite Woolverton's script while Roth was confirmed as returning as producer.[36] In September 2017, Jolie stated that they "have been working on the script and this is going to be a really strong sequel."[37] On October 3, 2017, Deadline reported that the film would be directed by Joachim Rønning and it would start filming in the first quarter of 2018.[38]

In April 2018, Ed Skrein was cast in the film to play a dark fae, with Elle Fanning returning to play Princess Aurora from the previous film.[39] Michelle Pfeiffer was also added as a character described as a queen,[40] later clarified to be an evil queen[41] named Queen Ingrith.[42]

In May 2018, it was announced that Harris Dickinson would replace Brenton Thwaites in the role of Prince Phillip, due to scheduling conflicts with the latter actor.[43] Later it was also confirmed that Jenn Murray, David Gyasi, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Robert Lindsay had also joined the cast. Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple and Lesley Manville were also confirmed to reprise their roles from the prior film.[44] [45] [46] In June 2018 Judith Shekoni joined the cast.[47]

The movie was theatrically released on October 18, 2019 by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures,[48] moving up from the film's previously announced date of May 29, 2020.,[49] and on December 31, 2019 by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment on Digital HD, followed by a 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD release on January 14, 2020.[50] Maleficent: Mistress of Evil was released on Disney+ on May 15, 2020.[51]

Future film in development

A third film is in early development.[52] [53] In December 2023, Angelina Jolie stated that she is returning to the title role.[54]

Video game

Maleficent Free Fall

A video game based on the film, titled Maleficent Free Fall and made by Disney Electronic Content, Inc., was released on May 15, 2014.

Cast and characters

CharactersFilms
MaleficentMaleficent
Untitled third Maleficent film
20142019
MaleficentAngelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie
AuroraElle Fanning
Elle Fanningrowspan="6"
DiavalSam Riley
KnotgrassImelda Staunton
FlittleLesley Manville
ThistlewitJuno Temple
Prince PhillipBrenton ThwaitesHarris Dickinson
King StefanSharlto Copley
King HenryKenneth Cranhamcolspan="2"
Queen LeilaHannah Newcolspan="2"
King JohnRobert Lindsay
Queen IngrithMichelle Pfeiffer
ConallChiwetel Ejiofor
BorraEd Skrein
LickspittleWarwick Davis
GerdaJenn Murray
PercivalDavid Gyasi

Reception

Critical and public response

Title! scope="col" colspan="2"
CriticalPublic
Rotten TomatoesMetacriticCinemaScore
Maleficent[55] 56 (44 reviews)[56] A[57]
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil[58] 43 (40 reviews)[59] A

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Maleficent: Press Kit . . June 6, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140609044511/http://www.wdsmediafile.com/media/maleficent/writen-material/maleficent5375639426893.pdf . June 9, 2014 . dead .
  2. Web site: Disney producer inspired by studio legend in making of 'Maleficent'. March 30, 2016. News4JAX. December 19, 2022.
  3. Web site: Immersed in Movies: Don Hahn Talks the Link Between 'Maleficent' and 'Sleeping Beauty'. Desowitz. Bill. November 4, 2014. IndieWire. December 19, 2022.
  4. Web site: Don Hahn interview: Maleficent, Disney, animation and more. Brew. Simon. May 23, 2014. Den of Geek. December 19, 2022.
  5. Web site: "Maleficent" Took Over 10 Years To Hit The Big Screen And Here's The Story Behind It. Galindo, Brian. Zamora Christian. October 17, 2019. BuzzFeed. December 19, 2022.
  6. Web site: Disney, 'Alice' scribe team for film about 'Sleeping Beauty's' evil queen (exclusive). March 24, 2010. The Hollywood Reporter. December 19, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20100726164048/http://heatvision.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/03/disney-alice-scribe-team-for-film-about-sleeping-beautys-evil-queen-exclusive.html. July 26, 2010.
  7. News: Brooks. Xan. Tim Burton's Sleeping Beauty: Angelina Jolie poised to play Maleficent. October 25, 2014. The Guardian. March 29, 2010.
  8. News: Kit. Borys. Tim Burton Won't Direct Disney's 'Maleficent' (Exclusive). https://web.archive.org/web/20110518021811/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/tim-burton-wont-direct-disneys-188700. May 18, 2011. May 30, 2014. The Hollywood Reporter. May 6, 2011.
  9. Web site: Tim Burton exits Disney's Maleficent starring Angelina Jolie. May 17, 2011. Moviehole. December 19, 2022.
  10. Web site: Darren Aronofsky Being Sought To Helm 'Maleficent' and 'Moses'. Schaefer. Sandy. May 21, 2011. Screen Rant. December 19, 2022.
  11. Web site: David O. Russell Circling Disney's 'Maleficent'. McClintock, Pamela. Kit, Borys. June 14, 2011. The Hollywood Reporter. December 19, 2022.
  12. Web site: Guillermo Del Toro Would Direct 'Maleficent' If Disney Asked And Time Allowed. Fischer. Russ. June 20, 2011. /Film. December 19, 2022.
  13. Web site: Joe Roth Taking Producer Role In Angelina Jolie-Starrer 'Maleficent' For Disney. Fleming. Mike Jr.. September 26, 2011. Deadline Hollywood. December 19, 2022.
  14. Web site: Disney Sets Robert Stromberg To Helm 'Maleficent'. Deadline Hollywood. Mike Jr. . Fleming. January 6, 2012 . December 19, 2022.
  15. Web site: Berlin 2012: Disney's 'Maleficent' Will Be Angelina Jolie's Next Starring Role . Szalai, Georg . McClintock, Pamela . February 11, 2012 . . December 19, 2022.
  16. Web site: Linda Woolverton and the Making of Maleficent . Brown . Emma . June 2, 2014 . . December 19, 2022.
  17. Web site: Kaye. Don. Maleficent director Robert Stromberg talks bringing Sleeping Beauty to Life. Den of Geek. June 2, 2014. June 7, 2014.
  18. Web site: Maleficent Script PDF. August 11, 2021.
  19. Web site: Don't be Afraid of Disney's MALEFICENT Trailer — Nerdist.
  20. Web site: Angelina Jolie Mystifies in New 'Maleficent' Trailer. January 21, 2014.
  21. News: Imelda Staunton, Miranda Richardson Joining Angelina Jolie in 'Maleficent' (Exclusive). The Hollywood Reporter. May 7, 2012. Borys. Kit. May 7, 2012.
  22. Web site: Bibbiani. William. Maleficent: Director Robert Stromberg on True Love and Reshoots. CraveOnline.com. May 30, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140602060843/http://www.craveonline.com/film/interviews/695289-maleficent-director-robert-stromberg-on-true-love-and-reshoots. June 2, 2014. dead.
  23. News: Desowitz. Bill. Director Robert Stromberg Talks 'Maleficent': Cutting Edge Virtual Cinema and Age-Old Emotional Storytelling. 30 August 2014. Indiewire. May 30, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140813060513/http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/robert-stromberg-talks-directing-maleficent-and-virtual-cinema. August 13, 2014. dead.
  24. Web site: First Look at Angelina Jolie as 'Maleficent'; Disney Kicks Off Production. Savage. Sophia. June 19, 2012. Indiewire. January 27, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160203093152/http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/first-look-at-angelina-jolie-as-maleficent-disney-kicks-off-production. February 3, 2016. dead.
  25. Web site: Ravitz. Justin. 2012-06-19. FIRST PIC: See Angelina Jolie as Maleficent! . 2022-09-16. Us Magazine. https://web.archive.org/web/20220916031010/https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/first-pic-see-angelina-jolie-as-maleficent-2012196/. September 16, 2022. en.
  26. Web site: Ramsdale. Suzannah. 2012-06-21. First pics of Angelina Jolie filming Maleficent in Buckinghamshire. 2021-02-11. Marie Claire. en.
  27. Web site: Angelina Jolie's 'Maleficent' given March 2014 release date . Goodacre . Kate . April 10, 2012 . Digital Spy . September 25, 2022.
  28. Web site: "Maleficent" release moved to summer 2014 . Derschowitz . Jessica . January 15, 2013 . CBS News . September 25, 2022.
  29. Web site: Disney Announces New Dates for Maleficent, The Good Dinosaur and Finding Dory. September 18, 2013. ComingSoon.net. September 21, 2013. November 11, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141111151527/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=109129. dead.
  30. Web site: Maleficent. Walt Disney Company. May 21, 2014. April 10, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140410191345/http://www.disney.co.uk/movies/maleficent/. dead.
  31. News: Maleficent 2 Sets Spring Filming Start Date. Screen Rant. January 5, 2018. January 13, 2018. Carolyn. Burke. August 2, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200802100547/https://screenrant.com/maleficent-2-angelina-jolie-filming-start-date/. live.
  32. Web site: Disney Movie Release Dates: Poppins Moves Up, Jungle Cruise Delayed. 2018-07-10. ComingSoon.net. en-US. 2019-04-01. 2019-04-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20190406110013/https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/956795-disney-movie-release-dates-poppins-moves-up-jungle-cruise-delayed. live.
  33. News: Coonan. Clifford. Angelina Jolie Hints at 'Maleficent' Sequel in China. June 3, 2014. The Hollywood Reporter. August 10, 2018.
  34. News: Fleming. Mike Jr.. 'Maleficent' Sequel On Disney Drawing Board As Linda Woolverton Makes Scripting Deal. June 16, 2015. Deadline Hollywood. June 15, 2015.
  35. News: Lang. Brent. Disney Claims Dates for Several New Movies; Confirms 'Jungle Book 2,' 'Mary Poppins' Sequel. April 26, 2016. Variety. April 25, 2016.
  36. News: Sneider. Jeff. "Maleficent 2" Moves Forward as Disney Taps "Spectre" Scribe Jez Butterworth to Rewrite Sequel (Exclusive). September 4, 2017. The Tracking Board. August 29, 2017.
  37. News: Hammond. Pete. Telluride Film Festival: Angelina Jolie On Directing, Netflix, Oscar & 'Maleficent'. September 4, 2017. Deadline Hollywood. September 3, 2017.
  38. News: Busch. Anita. Joachim Rønning In Talks To Direct Disney's 'Maleficent 2'. October 3, 2017. Deadline Hollywood. October 3, 2017.
  39. News: Kroll. Justin. Ed Skrein Lands Villain Role in 'Maleficent' Sequel (EXCLUSIVE). April 24, 2018. Variety. April 17, 2018.
  40. News: Kroll. Justin. Michelle Pfeiffer in Talks to Join Angelina Jolie in 'Maleficent 2' (EXCLUSIVE). April 29, 2018. Variety. April 27, 2018.
  41. Web site: The filming of Maleficent 2 has already begun!. Gobhy. May 4, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180525213139/https://www.gobhy.com/the-filming-of-maleficent-2-has-already-begun/. May 24, 2019. 2018-05-25.
  42. Web site: Michelle Pfeiffer Gives the First Look at Her Maleficent 2 Character, Queen Ingrith. Marissa. Muller. W. January 29, 2019. May 24, 2019.
  43. News: Kroll. Justin. 'Trust' Star Harris Dickinson to Play the Prince in Disney's 'Maleficent 2' (EXCLUSIVE). May 28, 2018. Variety. May 2, 2018.
  44. News: Kroll. Justin. 'Fantastic Beasts' Actress Jenn Murray Joins 'Maleficent 2' (EXCLUSIVE). May 28, 2018. Variety. May 17, 2018.
  45. News: Tartaglione. Nancy. David Gyasi Joins Disney's 'Maleficent' Sequel. May 28, 2018. Deadline Hollywood. May 23, 2018.
  46. News: D'Alessandro. Anthony. Robert Lindsay & Chiwetel Ejiofor Joining 'Maleficent II' As Cameras Roll. May 29, 2018. Deadline Hollywood. May 29, 2018.
  47. News: Clarke. Stewart. 'Maleficent 2' Adds Judith Shekoni of 'Heroes Reborn' and 'Ice' (EXCLUSIVE). June 8, 2018. Variety. June 11, 2018.
  48. Web site: Angelina Jolie Sequel 'Maleficent 2' Moves Up To Fall 2019. Deadline Hollywood. Anthony. D'Alessandro. March 6, 2019. March 6, 2019.
  49. News: Perry. Spencer. Disney Movie Release Dates: Poppins Moves Up, Jungle Cruise Delayed. June 12, 2018. ComingSoon.net. June 10, 2018.
  50. Web site: 'Maleficent: Mistress of Evil' Goes Digital in December. 2019-12-04. Slanted. en-US. 2020-05-15. 2019-12-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20191209173927/https://theslanted.com/2019/12/36645/maleficent-mistress-of-evil-digital-release-blu-ray/. dead.
  51. Web site: Disney+'s New Releases Coming in May. The Hollywood Reporter. 25 April 2020 . en. 2020-05-15.
  52. Web site: Angelina Jolie is expected to return in Maleficent 3 . Giant Freakin Robot. Faith. Mckay. 9 September 2021 . September 9, 2021.
  53. Web site: Angelina Jolie is reportedly returning for Maleficent 3 . We Got This Covered. Scott. Campbell. September 10, 2021.
  54. Web site: Cuevas . Jailene . 2023-12-06 . Angelina Jolie confirms Maleficent 3 despite teasing leaving Hollywood . 2023-12-06 . The Mirror . en.
  55. . Maleficent . m . .
  56. maleficent . Maleficent . m . May 1, 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220421050350/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/maleficent . April 21, 2022.
  57. Web site: Anthony . D'Alessandro . 'Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil' Has Bad Spell Stateside With $36M+, 'Joker' Still The Man With $29M+, 'Zombieland 2' Reaps $26M+ . October 20, 2019 . May 1, 2022.
  58. . Maleficent: Mistress of Evil . m . .
  59. maleficent-mistress-of-evil . Maleficent: Mistress of Evil . m . May 1, 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220421050244/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/maleficent-mistress-of-evil . April 21, 2022.

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