Maleficent

[number8]

Directed by two-time Oscar®-winning production designer Robert Stromberg ("Avatar," "Alice in Wonderland"), in his directorial debut, and produced by Joe Roth, "Maleficent" is written by Linda Woolverton ("The Lion King," "Beauty and the Beast") and executive produced by Angelina Jolie, Don Hahn, Matt Smith and Palak Patel. Co-starring in the film are Sharlto Copley ("District 9"), Elle Fanning ("Super 8"), Sam Riley ("On the Road"), Imelda Staunton ("Vera Drake"), Miranda Richardson ("The Hours"), Juno Temple ("Atonement") and Lesley Manville ("Secrets & Lies").

This is the untold story of Disney's most beloved villain, Maleficent, from the 1959 classic "Sleeping Beauty." The film reveals the events that hardened her heart and drove her to curse the baby, Aurora. Behind-the-scenes talent includes Academy Award®–winning cinematographer Dean Semler ("Dances with Wolves," "In the Land of Blood and Honey"), production designer Gary Freeman ("Saving Private Ryan," "The Bourne Supremacy"), two-time Oscar® nominated costume designer Anna B. Sheppard ("Schindler's List," "The Pianist") and seven-time Academy Award–winning makeup artist Rick Baker ("Planet of the Apes," "Men in Black").

I wonder why the press release doesn't mention that it's also written by Paul Dini? That's like the biggest reason I'm trying to stay optimistic about this.

[Watashi]

Who's playing Aurora? Elle Fanning?

[number8]

Yep. Sharlto Copley and Miranda Richardson are her parents.

[Winston*]

Irritating premise. Sounds like the Star Wars prequels.

[number8]

I think it's supposed to be more like Wicked.

[Winston*]

I think it's supposed to be more like Wicked.

A better comparison.

[megladon8]

That image is stunning.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Teaser:

[Dukefrukem]

I predict another bomb for Disney.

Edit: How the fuck could this possibly cost $130 – $200 million?

[Skitch]

This exists.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I predict another bomb for Disney.

Edit: How the fuck could this possibly cost $130 – $200 million?

It's a tentpole. Tentpoles sell spectacle. Spectacle costs money. Money, it's a hit.

[Henry Gale]

It's a tentpole. Tentpoles sell spectacle. Spectacle costs money. Money, it's a hit.

Yup. If Alice In Wonderland can hit a billion and Oz can do half of that, then this will do just fine. It helps that the effects look like they've carried over from both.

At worst it does Snow White & The Huntsman numbers (150 domestic, 400 worldwide), but with Disney's marketing power, it can easily outdo that.

[eternity]

What separates this from The Lone Ranger or John Carter is that those were geared toward and reliant upon interest from young males. While that is the demographic for tentpoles, it's clear that Disney is not best served to try to cater to them exclusively. Considering how every hit they churn out (which is probably half of the movies they make) prints enough money to pay for three bombs, I don't think they have to worry. A spin on an established Disney brand with Angelina Jolie in the lead sounds like a no-brainer for them.

[Dukefrukem]

So Angelina Jolie is the draw here? That's what is going to make back the $? I just don't see it.

[slqrick]

So Angelina Jolie is the draw here? That's what is going to make back the $? I just don't see it.

I think she's still fairly bankable for the Disney crowd.

[Ezee E]

This looks more like the Jack and the Giant Killer to me.

All said and done, Angelina Jolie isn't really that bankable of a star. She hasn't had one movie make more then $200 mill. And movies like Salt, Wanted, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith turn out profitable, but this is a kids' movie... Right?

[megladon8]

Why did this take so long to make? I remember seeing the first stills of Jolie in costume and make-up back in 2010/11.

[MadMan]

Eh. Meh. Blah. Uh. Oh. Ah. Lah. Trah. Dah. Zah.

[Henry Gale]

Why did this take so long to make? I remember seeing the first stills of Jolie in costume and make-up back in 2010/11.

I mean, they started filming back in summer of 2012, and more recently they re-shot the entire first act with the help of Disney's trusted Saving Mr. Banks director John Lee Hancock (he also directed The Blind Side! How neat!), so it has been in production for a while, but not as far back as that. I can imagine people immediately jumped on making some believable fan art when it was announced, since there's not too much imagination needed to see how well Jolie fits the look of this role.

[Kurosawa Fan]

So Angelina Jolie is the draw here? That's what is going to make back the $? I just don't see it.

I think you are underestimating the draw of Maleficent the character. She's one of the most revered classic Disney villains. This may not break records, but I imagine it will do just fine.

[TGM]

Seeing that Elle Fanning's in this has slightly piqued my interest a bit.

[Dukefrukem]

I think you are underestimating the draw of Maleficent the character. She's one of the most revered classic Disney villains.

You're probably right.

[Irish]

I think you are underestimating the draw of Maleficent the character. She's one of the most revered classic Disney villains. This may not break records, but I imagine it will do just fine.

Honestly that trailer just makes me want to watch the original movie again.

[number8]

Honestly that trailer just makes me want to watch the original movie again.

Disney: "Hey, it's all cool, man. It's all the same money to us. Have you played Kingdom Hearts?"

[Irish]

Disney: "Hey, it's all cool, man. It's all the same money to us. Have you played Kingdom Hearts?"

:lol: