FAQ

When winged fairy Maleficent (Angelina Jolie), protectorate of the Moors, was betrayed by her childhood friend, Stefan, in his wish to become successor to the King, she vows revenge on King Stefan's (Sharlto Copley) baby daughter Aurora, cursing Aurora to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and fall into an eternal slumber on her 16th birthday. Consequently, King Stefan sends Aurora to the countryside to be raised by three dingaling pixies: Knotgrass (Imelda Staunton), Flittle (Lesley Manville),and Thistlewit (Juno Temple). Unbeknownst to either King or pixies, Maleficent is secretly watching Aurora (Elle Fanning) grow up ...and waiting.

Loosely based on French author Charles Perrault's (1628-1703) fairy tale La Belle au bois dormant (trans: The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood; known in English as Sleeping Beauty) and inspired by Walt Disney's 1959 animated film, Dornröschen und der Prinz (1959), American screenwriter Linda Woolverton wrote the screenplay. A sequel, Maleficent - Mächte der Finsternis (2019), will be released on October 18, 2019.

The realm is separated into two kingdoms. One is inhabited by humans. The other, the forest kingdom known as the Moors, is inhabited by Maleficent and various magical beings.

There is a brief scene in which King Stefan is informed that his wife is dying of an unspecified illness. Stefan simply brushes off the information and focuses mainly on his revenge plot against Maleficent. It is implied that Queen Leila dies off screen.

When Prince Phillip's (Brenton Thwaites) kiss fails to awaken Aurora, Maleficent is heartbroken. She promises to protect the sleeping beauty for as long as she lives and kisses her on the forehead. Miraculously, Aurora awakens, having been kissed by one who truly loves her. Meanwhile, Stefan has gotten word that Maleficent is in the castle and sends his guards to kill her. First, they drop a blanket of iron mesh over her as she and Aurora leave the room. Writhing in agony, Maleficent transforms Diaval (Sam Riley) into a large dragon who lifts the iron blanket off her and attempts to ward off her attackers who, using their shields, form an iron circle around Maleficent, penning her in. Just as Stefan is about to strike the killing blow, Maleficent's wings, which have been found and released by Aurora, reattach themselves to her body. Fully empowered, Maleficent dodges the spears being thrown at her. However, Stefan loops a chain around her leg as Maleficent flies through a window, carrying him with her. Maleficent sets him down on a turret, but he lunges at her from behind, pushing them both off the tower. Maleficent is able to break her fall by taking flight, but Stefan falls to his death. In the final scene, a bright new day has come to the Moors, and Maleficent crowns Aurora as their queen, uniting both kingdoms in peace.

It is actually left ambiguous. They have a brief bonding moment the first time they meet, but they do not connect again until the very end. Phillip does attempt to kiss Aurora (by order of the fairies) in order to wake her, but the attempt is unsuccessful, showing that Phillip was not her true love. However, they do share a smile at the end of the film, hinting at the possibility of a relationship.

There are quite a few key differences between the animated Disney film Sleeping Beauty and the live action adaptation. This version of Maleficent is in no way truly evil. She's simply out for revenge after Stefan betrays her. In fact, the film portrays Maleficent in a much more heroic light. King Stefan is depicted as a sinister, yet unstable tyrant, and serves as the film's main antagonist. In the animated film, he's a humbler, more kindhearted leader. Also, Stefan speaks with a thick Scottish accent as opposed to his English RP in the animated film.

Maleficent does not have wings in the original. Rather, she has the ability to magically teleport from one place to another. She also has the ability to transform into a fierce, fire-breathing dragon; in Maleficent, Diaval is the one who turns into a dragon in order to fight off Stefan's men. Diablo, Maleficent's crow companion, is renamed Diaval in the new film, and he can transform into a human, a dragon, or any other being through ways of Maleficent's powers. Maleficent's trademark green skin is replaced with pale white skin in the new film. However, during the scene in which Maleficent casts a spell on Aurora, her skin is illuminated by green flames coming from her hands, temporarily giving her the classic green-skinned appearance.

In the original film, Maleficent's staff is a weapon; it's used to deal powerful spells and attacks. In Maleficent, she uses it as a walking stick after Stefan cuts off her wings and leaves her helpless. Maleficent uses her magical powers through her hands rather than through her staff. The three fairies (renamed Thistletwit, Knotgrass, and Flittle) are generally more clownish and comical than their animated counterparts. They're also depicted as dysfunctional guardians who lack the ability to take care of a child; this leads Maleficent and Diaval to take care of baby Aurora themselves. Maleficent's pig-like minions are not present in the new film. Instead, she leads an army of tree-like forest creatures.

The climax and ending of Maleficent is completely different from that of Sleeping Beauty. In Sleeping Beauty, Prince Phillip is the one who awakens Aurora by giving her true love's kiss. In Maleficent, he attempts to kiss her, but it doesn't work. Instead, Maleficent is the one who awakens her with a kiss on the forehead; this version of true love's kiss depicts a motherly love rather than a romantic one.