Angelina Jolie Is 'Maleficent' In First Official Photo

The Oscar-winning actress hits the screen as the evil Disney sorceress in the March 2014 fantasy flick, which began production Tuesday.
By Josh Wigler

Angelina Jolie in "Maleficent"
Photo:

Say it with me now, people: Bad has never looked so good.

Disney has premiered the first look at Angelina Jolie in "Maleficent," the long-awaited retelling of Sleeping Beauty's magically gifted nemesis. The movie is billed as "the untold story of Disney's most beloved villain," one that dives into "the events that hardened her heart and drove her to curse the baby, Aurora." Our first look at Jolie as the titular sorceress comes accompanied with the news that production has officially started on "Maleficent" as of Tuesday (June 19), with a targeted 3-D release date of March 14, 2014.

That date can't come soon enough, frankly. "Maleficent" has been years in the making already: First announced in January 2010 with Tim Burton attached as director, "Maleficent" was little more than talk in the months that followed.

"I would love to [make 'Maleficent']. It's all new and being discussed, but I loved her when I was a little girl, she was my favorite," Jolie told MTV News in July 2010. "And Tim [Burton]... the chance to work with him would just be extraordinary."

When we caught up with her again almost a full year later, Jolie's stance remained the same: "Maleficent" would be a great opportunity, but it was still "all new and being discussed." It wasn't until the beginning of 2012 that the project finally started gaining traction, with "Avatar" and "Alice in Wonderland" production designer Robert Stromberg replacing Burton as director and Jolie later confirming that "Maleficent" would be her first acting gig in two years.

Fast-forward to today and the movie is now in production, with a great first look at Jolie as Maleficent and a strong cast including Sharlto Copley and Elle Fanning lined up — not to mention a firm release date on the calendar to boot. But like Jolie did many times over the course of the project's development, we'll gladly repeat ourselves now: "Maleficent" can't come soon enough.

Are you excited to see Jolie as Maleficent? Let us know in the comments below! Check out everything we've got on "Maleficent."

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