Michelle Pfeiffer is the latest Hollywood names to enter final talks for Disney’s follow-up to Maleficent alongside Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning.
If the deal goes through, Pfeiffer is set to play a Queen in the twisted tale.
With Jolie and Fanning already onboard, British actor, Ed Skrein is also in talks for an undisclosed role. Norwegian film director Joachim Ronning (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) will direct the follow up to the Fantasy drama.
Also in the news – Colin Firth and Julie Waters join cast of The Secret Garden
The original was based on the story fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty. As a beautiful young woman of pure heart, Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) has an idyllic life in a forest kingdom. When an invading army threatens the land, Maleficent rises up to become its fiercest protector. However, a terrible betrayal hardens her heart and twists her into a creature bent on revenge. She engages in an epic battle with the invading king’s successor, then curses his newborn daughter, Aurora — realizing only later that the child holds the key to peace in the kingdom.
Directed by Robert Stromberg, the film starred Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, and Lesley Manville in supporting roles alongside Jolie. It was a commercial success, having grossed over $758 million worldwide, becoming the fourth highest-grossing film of 2014 and the highest-grossing film starring Jolie. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design at the 87th Academy Awards.
Recently, Pfeiffer was seen in both Darren Aronofsky’s mother! and Kenneth Branagh’s Murder on the Orient Express. She will next be seen Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp.
Filming is due to start this year.
