"The Walt Disney Studios announced today that production began Wednesday, June 13th, on “Maleficent,” starring Academy Award–winning actress Angelina Jolie. Directed by two-time Oscar-winning production designer Robert Stromberg (“Avatar,” “Alice in Wonderland”), in his directorial debut, and produced by Joe Roth, “Maleficent” is written by Linda Woolverton (“The Lion King,” “Beauty and the Beast”) and executive produced by Angelina Jolie, Don Hahn, Matt Smith and Palak Patel.

Angelina Jolie has undergone something of a transformation to play the evil sorcess Maleficient.


The Oscar-winning actress is seen with the famous horned headpiece as she takes the title role of the Sleeping Beauty sorceress in the forthcoming fairytale spin-off, which has started production.

Angelina - who is also executive producer - is seen with yellow contacts and chiselled cheekbones as she transforms into the self-proclaimed 'mistress of all evil' for the movie.

Disney's live-action, 3-D fantasy film "Maleficent," due in theaters March 14, 2014, is an alternate retelling of the story of "Sleeping Beauty." Instead of Princess Aurora, the story focuses on the life of her nemesis Maleficent -- depicted in the 1959 animated Disney classic -- and what drove her to cast an evil spell.

All indications point to Maleficent being more sympathetic in this updated version -- or at least better understood.