Disney’s Maleficent: Mistress of Evil won’t be released until October 18, 2019, but you can watch the trailer now. 

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It can be hard for a mother or (a fairy godmother) to accept that her little girl is growing up and ready to get married and have her own happily ever after.  Most adults realize that love isn’t a pie with a finite number of pieces, but an infinite ever-growing supply.  Maleficent is having trouble with both concepts.  Her “wee Beastie” is growing up and has gotten engaged to Prince Philip.  Maleficient doesn’t approve – nor does she deal well with Princess Aurora’s biological mother wanting to claim her rightful place in Aurora’s life.

“Love doesn’t always end well,” Maleficent warns her goddaughter.  As those who saw the first movie know, Maleficent lost her wings and her heart to Aurora’s father, who betrayed her.  She cursed baby Aurora to get revenge against him, and was caught in her own curse:  “The princess shall indeed grow in grace and beauty, beloved by all who meet her.  But before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday she will prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and fall into a sleep like death, a sleep from which she will never awaken. The princess can be woken from her death sleep, but only by true love’s kiss.”  Maleficent met her, and her maternal love for her goddaughter was true enough to wake her from her spell.

Angelina Jolie reprises her role as Maleficent.  Elle Fanning is Princess Aurora.  Sam Riley (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) is back as Diaval, Maleficent’s raven familiar.  Michelle Pfeiffer (Ladyhawke, Ant-Man and the Wasp) portrays Queen Ingrith, Aurora’s mother, King Stefan’s widow.  (In the first movie, her name was Princess Leila, and she was played by Hannah New.)

Some new actors have joined the cast for this sequel. Chiwetel Ejiofor (Serenity, The Martian) is visible in the trailer, apparently a member of the Unseelie Court, who wants Maleficent to do her duty to her own people.  Ed Skrein (Deadpool, Alita: Battle Angel) also stars in an unnamed role.  Harris Dickinson (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance) replaces Brenton Thwaites as Prince Philip.

“Godmother, this isn’t you,” Aurora protests.  “You do not know me,” Maleficent retorts.  Do family ever truly know each other?  Queen Ingrith congratulates Maleficent for “going against her own nature” to raise Aurora and raise her well, but later she aims a crossbow at her daughter’s beloved fairy godmother.   Is Prince Philip strong enough to marry into this cluster of in-laws?

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil makes its big debut on October 18 and stars Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning. Will you be seeing it?

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Susan Macdonald
Susan Macdonald

Susan Macdonald is the author of the children’s book “R is for Renaissance Faire”, as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in “Alternative Truths”, “Swords and Sorceress ”, Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, “Cat Tails” “Under Western Stars”, and “Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid”. Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio’s web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions,  Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.