Originally written By Becky Fuller for Screen Rant
Disney has put together an impressive Maleficent: Mistress of Evil cast to help continue their retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Maleficent released in 2014, starring Angelina Jolie as the titular bad fairy. The original movie took audiences through Maleficent's early years, and her love for the young King Stefan, who went on to father Aurora.
After Stefan cut off her wings, Maleficent turned to dark magic and became bent on revenge. However, she couldn't help but love the young Aurora, and as Maleficent tells it, it was she who woke Aurora with true love's kiss, not Prince Phillip. Given Maleficent's success, and the praise for Jolie's performance as Maleficent, it's little surprise that Disney decided to make a sequel, further detailing the relationship between Maleficent and Aurora after the latter has been woken from her slumber.
Maleficent is living peacefully as protector of the moors, her homeland, while Aurora is being romanced by Prince Phillip. After he proposes, and she accepts, Aurora and Maleficent discover that Phillip's mother, Queen Ingrith, intends to divide humans and fairies forever. This leaves Maleficent and Aurora on opposing sides, and trying to figure out if they ever can be a family. Along with Jolie, several other original cast members return for Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, and there are also some interesting new additions.
ANGELINA JOLIE AS MALEFICENT
Angelina Jolie reprises her eponymous role from Maleficent, which has always been her favorite Disney character. The first film explored why Maleficent came to distrust humans so much, and in particular why she loathed King Stefan, his wife, and their newborn baby, Aurora. Maleficent: Mistress of Evil takes this a step further, by examining how her mistrust impacts on her relationship with the now adult Aurora, who is marrying Prince Philip and inheriting a mother-in-law who is quite eager for Aurora to become family. Jolie is one of the world's best-known actresses, and has played roles in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Mr & Mrs Smith, Kung Fu Panda, and Salt. She will soon appear as Thena in Marvel's Eternals movie.
ELLE FANNING AS PRINCESS AURORA
Elle Fanning reprises her role from the first movie as Aurora, and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil picks up 5 years after the events of Maleficent. In other words, it's been 5 years since Aurora was woken from her enchantment. Aurora is still being romanced by Prince Phillip, much to Maleficent's annoyance. Aurora finds herself torn between wanting to please her godmother, and wanting to be with the man she loves. Fanning has had a long career already, and she's only 21. From playing a young Daisy in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, to playing Aurora, Fanning has also appeared in How to Talk To Girls at Parties, and played the titular role in Mary Shelley.
MICHELLE PFEIFFER AS QUEEN INGRITH
Michelle Pfeiffer plays Queen Ingrith, mother to Prince Phillip. Her character is new to Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. Queen Ingrith is keen to welcome Aurora into the family, but not so happy about the presence of Maleficent. The pair don't see eye to eye, and it's apparent that Queen Ingrith's dislike of Maleficent extends to all fairies. Pfeiffer has enjoyed a long career, including roles in Grease 2, Hairspray, Dangerous Liasons, Murder on the Orient Express, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and of course, Batman Returns.
CHIWETEL EJIOFER AS CONALL
Conall is also a new character, and is played by Chiwetel Ejiofor. Conall is a horned fairy like Maleficent. He, too, seems more drawn to dark magic, and he has an army ready to fight for the fairy kingdom. For Maleficent, who thinks she's alone in the world, the sight of a fairy army stirs up a lot of conflicting emotions. Does she fight for her race, or protect her relationship with Aurora? Most recently, Ejiofor has voiced Scar in Jon Favreau's The Lion King remake, and is also known for playing Mordo in the MCU. Before that, he starred in films such as The Martian, Serenity, Salt, and 12 Years A Slave, a film for which he was nominated for several awards, including an Academy Award for Best Actor.
SAM RILEY AS DIAVAL
Diaval is Maleficent's servant, a shape-shifter who often assumes the form of a raven which can be seen perched on his Mistresses shoulder. Diaval is an updated version of Diablo, the raven whom Maleficent owned in Sleeping Beauty. Diaval is devoted to Maleficent, since she rescued him from a lifetime of being a bird. As well as his role in both Maleficent movies, Sam Riley can be seen playing Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and will also play Jack Favell in Rebecca.
IMELDA STAUNTON AS KNOTGRASS, JUNO TEMPLE AS THISTLEWIT & LESLEY MANVILLE AS FLITTLE
Imelda Staunton plays one of the trio of fairies that keep an eye on Aurora. After raising her in the woods to adulthood, the fairies are rightfully very protective of her. Staunton's career is varied and vast, including critically acclaimed roles on stage, TV and in film. She is perhaps best known for playing Delores Umbrige in the Harry Potter series, and can most recently be seen in the Downton Abbey movie. Playing the second of the fairy trio is Juno Temple as Thistlewit. Most recently, Temple has been playing the role of Veronica Newell in the Netflix series, Dirty John. Lesley Manville plays the final role in the fairy trio, Flittle. The British actress is a staple on UK TV screens, with roles on shows such as Cranford and Mum.
HARRIS DICKINSON AS PRINCE PHILLIP
Prince Phillip is the prince whom everyone thought woke Aurora from her spell, with true love's kiss. In fact, it was Maleficent who did it (according to Maleficent, anyway). He is smitten with Aurora and proposes to her, which she accepts. Harris Dickinson takes over the role from Brenton Thwaites, who is committed to his role on Titans. Although still relatively unknown, Dickinson has recently appeared as Gurjin in Netflix's The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.
ROBERT LINDSAY AS KING JOHN
King John is another new character for Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. He is married to Queen Ingrith, and although he's king, he seems to hold little power in comparison to his wife. Lindsay is an extremely well-known British actor, with a wealth of TV roles to his name, including playing Ben Harper in My Family, one of the longest-running British sitcoms.
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is now playing at Regal.
