Angelina Jolie to Portray Disney's 'Maleficent' in New Film
Angelina Jolie is taking on a new role sure to delight even the youngest of fans. She will portray one of Disney's greatest villainesses, Maleficent.
"I hope in the end you see a woman who is capable of being many things, and just because she protects herself and is aggressive, it doesn't mean she can't have other (warmer) qualities," she told Entertainment Weekly.
Maleficent is, of course, the green, horned villainess of Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" who tries to kill the innocent and beloved Princess Aurora.
"It sounds really crazy to say that there will be something that's good for young girls in this, because it sounds like you're saying they should be a villain," Jolie explained. "But she is actually a great person. She's not perfect, she's far from perfect."
The Disney classic was taken from the Tchaikovsky ballet based upon the fairytale by Charles Perrault. Disney released the movie in 1959 and it immediately became a success.
It holds a special place in Disney fans' hearts, as it was the last fairytale produced by Walt Disney before his death. In recent years it has been released on DVD and Blu-Ray, a sign of its popularity.
Now "Maleficent," which will be released next year, plans to turn the fairytale on its head. It is part of a new genre in which beloved stories are retold from the prospective of either the villain, as in "Wicked," or a supporting character, as in "Mirror, Mirror," both by Gregory Maguire.
While Maleficent's background and personal views may change audience's minds, one thing will certainly remain the same: her iconic horns.
"We're experimenting with different things," Jolie told Entertainment Weekly. "But the horns are the horns- you can't deny them. You have to have horns. I've already got my horns fitted; my kids are very happy."
