Dorky Maleficent? Angelina Jolie's epic reunion with Elle Fanning as filming on sequel starts
Actress Elle Fanning was recently joined by her on-screen mother Angelina Jolie for an epic behind-the-scenes picture as production on the sequel to their hit 2014 Disney classic Maleficent began.
The pair, who will be reprising their roles as Princess Aurora (Fanning) and the villain-with-a-change-of-heart (Jolie's Maleficent), seem to be packing on some action already, as reflected in the latest photos shared via Instagram.
Instead of making it all grim and dark, the Disney heroines kept it light, goofing around the sets and sharing what can be considered the first glimpse of the live-action sequel.
"It's bring your mom to work day on the #Maleficent2 set!!!!! ✌🏼" Fanning, who returns to the role after four years, captioned her picture with Jolie.
"Ultimate Photobomb #Maleficent2," she captioned a second shot.
A sharp and quite progressive departure from the classic Disney arcs, Maleficent retold the Sleeping Beauty story with a major twist — it was narrated from the antagonist's point of view. Although the movie's box-office performance was not as great as some of the recent releases from the studio like 'Beauty and the Beast' or 'The Jungle Book', 'Maleficent' managed to garner a respectable figure internationally, grossing $758 million.
Disney hopes to recreate the success with 'Maleficent II' (the official title) and the studio has added a slew of new characters and actors.
Joining Jolie and Fanning are stars such as Michelle Pfeiffer as Queen Ingrith and Harris Dickinson as Prince Philip, and 'Doctor Strange' vet Chiwetel Ejiofor in a role whose details are being kept under wraps.
The official synopsis of the film reveals a complex relationship between the leading ladies.
"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 and the soon to be Queen, as they form new alliances and face new adversaries in their struggle to protect the moors and the magical creatures that reside within," read the description.
Screenwriter Linda Woolverton penned the screenplay for Maleficent 2, along with Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster, and Joachim Rønning will be the director.
