Angelina Jolie gets her villainess on in a new ‘Maleficent’ trailer: smoky & scary?

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Oooh, Maleficent has a new trailer! And unlike the first teaser trailer, we actually get a really good look at Angelina’s Maleficent cheekbones and her Green Smoke of Doom. Here’s the thing: Maleficent is actually a pretty terrifying villainess, even in the original Disney cartoon. I’m worried that Disney is going to pull their punches a little bit in this new era of “not scaring children” and that Maleficent is going to end up a secretly nice villainess. Is that what this trailer is showing? Or are they just trying to get children in the theater, and then they’re going to scare the pants off them?

I wish they would have ended it with Maleficent’s laugh, which is what they did with the first teaser. But I do appreciate a real glimpse of The Villainess Maleficent kicking ass and throwing her smoke around. Villainess Realness! Anyway, this is the first film from Angelina (where she’s been in front of the camera) since 2010. It’s been a really long time and I hope she starts working more as an actress.

Here are some photos of Brad Pitt arriving at LAX last night. I guess he’s going to be at the SAG Awards tonight. And I guess Angelina will not be with him, which is too bad. She’s probably knee-deep in work in Australia.

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Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.

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94 Responses to “Angelina Jolie gets her villainess on in a new ‘Maleficent’ trailer: smoky & scary?”

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  1. Paige says:

    Can’t wait to see Maleficent. I miss Angie on the big screen

  2. MynameisPeaches! says:

    I’m beyond excited for this film. I loved this trailer. Ms Jolie looks so damn beautiful but is that a British accent?

  3. Geez Kaiser/Bedhead/CB—you guys almost made me think it was Friday. what’s with all the extra posts? Do you guys have to check every morning on Saturday/Sunday to see if there’s any good gossip/news going?

    Love the trailer–hopefully they’ll actually show it where I am, since it’s a Disney movie. The last film of Angelina’s they showed in my area was Salt, I think. Unless it’s a franchise/action/kids movie/romantic/comedy film–they don’t show it. I was pissed when they didn’t show Lincoln.

    BOOO! (on Angelina not going to the SAGs) I don’t just want to look at Brad in a tux–I want to see what leathery, Mistress of Doom, sackdress Angelina has found for the occasion.

    That being said, I really liked ‘In the Land of Blood and Honey’, so I think ‘Unbroken’ will turn out to be really good if she pulls off all the aerial stunts and stuff.

  4. Sullivan says:

    I hope it’s as dark and scary as I imagine it will be. Like Pan’s Labyrinth.

    • M.A.F. says:

      Yeah but that was del Torro and this film was not directed by him. Plus, we are dealing with Disney. This film can either go the way of the first Pirates or the Haunted House. I’m hoping it goes the way of the Pirate (and by that I mean, it will be good and a different take on what we already know).

  5. Maya says:

    No words for how excited I am for this – Angelina will be magnificent as Maleficent. This role is trailormade for her and she will hit if out of the park with one.

    Yes I miss Angelina on screen as well – she has such a stage presence and amazing acting talent.

    PS: Brad is looking hot as usual and cannot wait to see him at the SAGs.

    • Frida_K says:

      X1000

      I cannot wait for this one!

    • Thinker says:

      Angie really does have presence. She looks phenomenally beautiful and terrifying in the trailer. I hope the director edits the film well and the plot moves along, problems The Tourist had… Otherwise, I don’t see how a film like this with Angelina could be anything less than epic.

      Can’t believe she hasn’t been on screen since 2010. I miss her.

    • ANDREA1 says:

      Yes to everything you said… Angie has a stage presence anywhere she goes she commands attention effortlessly. Oh my my Brad is soo hot

  6. lucy2 says:

    I don’t usually care for her as an actress, but that looks pretty good, although very similar to that Snow White movie. She and Elle both look beautiful.

  7. lisa2 says:

    I’m so glad you put this up. She looks so beautiful and evil at the same time. I love that voice at the end. Perfect.

    and damn Brad looks hot as hell. Looks rested. I think he is going to the SAGs and PGAs.. I was not expecting Angie. She was seen on set filming the other day. Directing is not a job you just drop for a few days. She has a schedule to keep. I would love to see them on RC together. Always a treat. I hope the Oscars will bring that wish to life.

    They both have a lot of great things come up.. clapping.

    • ANDREA1 says:

      Clapping along with you Lisa2
      This family are hard working and also come out with great achievements. So happy for them. Its all well deserved.

  8. neer says:

    I can’t wait to watch Maleficent. I am impressed with the trailer.

    • ANDREA1 says:

      I’m hoping it breaks some box office record and make So much money. 🙂 😉

      • Maya says:

        Looking by the excitement from critics and public I think Maleficent will very likely pass the half a billion mark and maybe even near the one billion mark.

  9. Kim1 says:

    Angie is filming the airplane scene on the Gold Coast today

  10. sienna says:

    I agree, I hope it is scary. Disney freaked the h*ll out of me as a child with Watcher in the Woods, I couldn’t get enough of it. My girls love to be scared, but there are so few safe movies that are creepy but not too violent.

    • My absolute favorite Disney movie, one that I still watch all the time and sing all the songs, is Hunchback of Notre Dame. Hands down. I even bought a copy so I’d have it when I move out……

      It was so beautifully animated, the songs were amazing (it’s a big deal when I like all the songs in any musical), the story was amazing—Frollo was one of the best villains ever. Because he truly was evil–using anything, science, religion, etc as a justification to try and keep any race of people controlled/exterminated is pure evil.

      Plus the whole thing with Frollo lusting after Esmeralda—the entire Hellfire sequence—and subsequently trying to either force her to submit or die–that just reminds me of what we women (especially minority women) had to deal with, and still have to deal with to this day. I remember in 6th grade going to this seminar for school, about safety on the internet. This guy from the FBI spoke to us (who busts child molesters, etc), played a voice mail that this dude left on this girl’s phone (he was 40ish, she was 16)–to this day, I can’t tell you what he said, but he gave me the creeps. The girl ran away and moved in with him for two years, but then ran back to her family—so he was pissed–basically the FBI guy said that he said ‘if he couldn’t have her, no one else would’….

      God, I’m rambling..sorry 🙁

      • FLORC says:

        That’s a messed up story Virgilia. Wonder how the girl turned out.

        Beauty and the Beast was so beautifully animated. Wasn’t it all watercolor? The villian witch wasn’t too scary though.
        Ursulla and Maleficent are the 2 best villians. No redeeming qualities, just evil.

      • Lauraq says:

        I love Hunchback too! It’s funny how evil Frollo is, because I also love the book, and in that one he isn’t really evil. In the beginning he was kind and good, but his lust for Esmeralda drove him to evil, and in the end he was just a wretched person.

    • Maya says:

      I loved Ursula from The Little Mermaid – she scared the shit out of me. Now if they could just make that into a movie then who will be the best person to play Ursula? Meryl Streep?

      • Virgilia Coriolanus says:

        I love ‘Poor Unfortunate Souls’ and, of course, BODY LANGUAGE!!!

      • Redheadwriter says:

        Kathleen Turner – she’s got the voice for it!

      • Miffy says:

        UGH!!! Kathleen Turner would freakin’ NAIL IT! Spot on! Gawd, I was excited for Maleficent but now I have to see that movie made.

      • Amber says:

        I’m voting Bette Midler for Ursula and I’m almost positive that Disney really does already have plans for a live action Little Mermaid. (In a vacuum, Sierra Boggess is my Ariel. She did it on Broadway.)

      • Maya says:

        Kathleen Turner now that will be brilliant casting. I can also picture Kathy Bates in the role of Ursula.

        I think Alexis Bledel will suit Arial role.

  11. Missy says:

    Even with her evil face on, she is still stunning.

  12. lower-case deb says:

    Difret is showing today at Sundance.
    http://filmguide.sundance.org/film/13909/difret

    an Ethiopian film that has added her as their executive producer.

    btw, for those in the know of movie industry, what is the job of executive producer? i thought it’s to make the movie, but this movie is already done when AJ is added into the credits. so maybe for distribution?

    • lisa2 says:

      I think they are tying to get a distribution deal. With her name attached even as Executive Producer. It could help.

      some may disagree.. but Angie has a lot of Power.

    • Kim1 says:

      Oprah and Tyler Perry were added on as EPs on Precious because they wanted to bring attn to film.I DK if they invested any $

    • I think they’re the money, they make sure that the project stays on budget, and they also try and sell the film i.e get it distributed. That would make sense for Angelina to be in on it….most distributors would probably take it, simply because her name is attached to it.

    • Mrs Odie says:

      Giving an actor an EP credit is often a way of increasing her salary. It’s a negotiation. Actors’ salaries are set by their agents’ deals with the studios. I don’t know if there is an industry standard for the people at the top, but I know that any profession that has a union has some sort of salary schedule. In any event, giving Angie another “job” on the movie is a way to give her a whole second salary and possibly a piece of the movie’s profits. I’m sure she sits in on meetings and gets to make decisions, but I doubt she does any of the real EP job. A true EP is the person who runs everything. That’s why when a movie wins an Oscar, it’s the producers who accept. Especially on TV, there’s a ceiling on what actors make per episode. It’s an industry standard that’s negotiated through agents. A way to give an actor like, say, Hugh Laurie a gigantic raise later in the show’s run, once it has become a hit, is to give him an EP credit.

      • Katherine says:

        Rule 16. 3. of the Academy:
        “3.The individual(s) who shall be credited for Academy Award purposes must have screen credit of “producer” or “produced by.” Persons with screen credits of executive producer, co-producer, associate producer, line producer, produced in association with or any other credit shall not receive nominations or Academy statuettes. ”

        Executive Producers are not the ones who do the real producing. EP is often an “Honorary” title given to placate a star or it very well could be given to the financial backers.

  13. T.Fanty says:

    Oh, it does look like they’re pulling a Wicked, doesn’t it? I’ll bet she is secretly good inside.

    • lower-case deb says:

      i read somewhere that she started off good, becomes jaded, then ends up realizing that Sleeping Beauty is the key to her salvation and becomes good again in the end. so no Straight Up Evil as implied in the cartoon 🙁

      i’m bummed a bit. because The Maleficent has always been the unapologetic evil in my book, so compelling a character at that.

      even her name is rooted in “malevolent” and there’s nothing good in that.

      • T.Fanty says:

        It’s kind of the trend right now. Bad girls just need a little love and understanding.

      • I guess I sort of get why they do that–bad character becomes good–to show kids that just because you start out bad, or do something bad, it doesn’t have to define you for the rest of your life.

        But come on–I love the evil characters…..favorite villain is Frollo. He died evil. Never apologized for it–scared the sh-t out of me as a kid. Ugh. Disney.

      • Skye says:

        See? Nuts. That’s the kind of soft, liberal, wishy-washy thinking that teaches kids to run right up to evil and give it a big ol’ HUG to heal its inner boo-boos, and they end up mauled or cursed or part of someone’s Very Best Pies in London. Disney’s taking a classic TEACHABLE MOMENT in scary badassery and turning it into a Feeling Circle? THANKS, OBAMACARE.

        (In case the sarcasm is lost in type, my tongue is SO far into my cheek that I’m getting a cramp. 😉 )

      • Maya says:

        I think this movie is going to show how Maleficent turned into the Mistress of all Evil. I dont think they will excuse her in any way and that they will show her proper evil at the end.

  14. Kelly says:

    Don’t like the trailer, hope the movie proves me wrong, but from this it doesn’t look that great.

  15. GeeMoney says:

    Brad Pitt… drool.

    Love Angelina!

  16. d says:

    Hmmm, interesting trailer and special effect cheekbones! I hope they don’t make a twist so that Maleficent is just misunderstood. Anyway, it’s a kid’s movie, so I don’t think they’ll go too dark.

  17. dahlianoir says:

    ” See! I told you she was a witch!”

    Jennifer A. , LA

    • Maya says:

      “See: I told you she is a hypocrite and a bitch”

      Heidi (Justin’s ex long term girlfriend), NY

    • FLORC says:

      This is totally coming if it hasn’t already. I’m sure Handler will say something about it on her show. Ugh that woman.

      • Virgilia Coriolanus says:

        Florc, I don’t think Handler will be saying anything about Angelina any time soon….

        Maybe it’s just me, but I think after the double mastectomy announcement, that blew whatever wind out of Handler’s ‘That evil, demonic, homewrecking c*nt…..’ sails that she had left. Because a lot of people don’t really pay attention to that kind of stuff, so they might’ve only caught one rant, or one ‘joke’ of Handler’s–maybe thought it was funny, maybe thought it wasn’t a big deal….

        But after the announcement that everyone heard about (seriously, my dad heard about it, and he can’t even remember Liam Neeson’s last name–calls him Liam Nielson, drives me crazy)—I don’t think people will brush it off, especially since AJ hasn’t responded at all.

        So I think Handler/Huvane/whoever else is having second thoughts–because the last time Handler called Angelina evil/demon, etc was a few months before the announcement—remember it was when she was talking crap about Taylor Swift after the GGs.

  18. darkdove says:

    i want to go see it i like this kind of movies specially if they have actors i like i saw snow White and the hunter but i didnt like it that much i wanted to see more of cherlize and less of kirsten she made that movie suck for me, angelina looks great acts good too.

  19. Nicolette says:

    I am so looking forward to seeing this, it looks great. As for Disney many children’s stories in general kinda have, how shall I say this, an abusive element to them. A young girl deprived, neglected, living as a servant and singled out from the other children (Cinderella), a young girl being hunted down to have her heart cut out and brought back to an evil queen (Snow White), a young girl being poisoned and put into a potentially eternal sleep (Sleeping Beauty), a brother and sister being lured into being cooked and eaten (Hansel & Gretel), a group of unruly young boys being changed into donkeys and mistreated (Pinocchio) etc. Always kinda creeped me out.

    • mayamae says:

      Well, Walt Disney didn’t seem to care much for women, and he certainly seemed to hate mothers.

    • Miffy says:

      Google the original versions of those fairytales (example: in the original Sleeping Beauty the princess never woke up… but that didn’t stop Prince Charming… she birthed him a few happy healthy babies and slept through the whole thing). Disney has been PC-ing these stories from the start.

      • Anastasia Beaverhausen says:

        Yes! The originals are really effed up. I wish they’ll make movies based on those, but sadly I don’t think downer endings make a lot of money. The only Disney movie I think that is actually darker than the original is Beauty and the Beast.

        As for the trailer, not impressed. The first trailer had a more ominous feel and Jolie isn’t convincing me here.

  20. Snappyfish says:

    I have always adored the sleeping beauty! Dark & evil w/a dragon & a blonde princess in her own right!! So excited about this film. I hope they keep it dark & scary

  21. Kiddo says:

    I hate Brad’s wrinkly stained linen monochromatic or single tone slop outfits. He’d look better in jeans.

  22. Seagulls says:

    She has kind of an Eartha Kitt thing happening in this trailer.

  23. ANDREA1 says:

    I can’t wait for this movie! Wow I can’t believe Angie actual stayed away from the big screen for 4years. God I have missed her.

  24. ANDREA1 says:

    2014 is the jolie pitt year! Maleficent gets released So does unbroken and also fury for brad! Yay can’t wait 😉

  25. Skye says:

    When I was a little kid, i had one of those “read along with the record” sets of Sleeping Beauty, and I STILL remember Maleficent being the only Disney/storybook villain who ever scared me… like, check-under-the-bed, Mom-leave-the-door-cracked SCARED me. I think it was her horns, plus, obvs., that LAUGH. Ggyahhh…yikes. Today’s kids shouldn’t be robbed of the experience. Scare the Justice casual separates right off ’em, Disney! Rugrats need practice for when they’re grown up and things REALLY get scary.

    PS – hope they DIDN’T do the “modern” thing and make her all misunderstood and sympathetic. I’m all for complex, interesting villains… but leave Mal a VILLAIN – there’s been enough healing of inner children lately. 😉

    • Janet says:

      Ugh! I HATE it when they make the villains all sympathetic and misunderstood, like they were the innocent victims of a traumatic childhood or something. Let the villains be BAD, period. That’s what makes them so much fun.

    • Brittney says:

      Well, this is the official synopsis…

      A beautiful, pure-hearted young woman, Maleficent has an idyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army threatens the harmony of the land. Maleficent rises to be the land’s fiercest protector, but she ultimately suffers a ruthless betrayal—an act that begins to turn her pure heart to stone. Bent on revenge, Maleficent faces an epic battle with the invading king’s successor and, as a result, places a curse upon his newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Maleficent realizes that Aurora holds the key to peace in the kingdom—and perhaps to Maleficent’s true happiness as well.

      But I’m hopeful that the terrifying elements will still be there. Maybe it’ll be even MORE terrifying if her cruelty doesn’t stem from pure evil, if instead it shows that no one is invulnerable to becoming a monster, or that the most vicious acts (does the invasion make a statement about refugees??) can poison genuine peace and have long-lasting, counterproductive repercussions.

      Can you tell I’m supposed to be writing a film theory paper right now? Haha, sorry for the tangent.. back to work it is!

  26. lenje says:

    Looks like I’m the only one who’s underwhelmed with the CGI. I wonder if this is meant to be 3D, because otherwise the graphic’s quite unbelievable.

    • jinni says:

      Yeah. I’m getting really tired of all the CGI in movies. When I first heard of the movie I was really excited. But with each new trailer I become increasingly unimpressed.

    • Harryg says:

      I’m also tired of movies that look like video games.

  27. Miffy says:

    I’m really hoping they don’t screw this up, I know it’s Disney but I was hoping for more of a Pirates of the Caribbean vibe, less of a Burton’s Alice in Wonderland cartoony thing.

    Sleeping Beauty was always a childhood favourite of mine and that was because of Maleficent, the princess was always boring.

  28. GiGi says:

    I cannot wait for this! As a kid, Maleficent was my absolute favorite Disney character. No princesses for me- just the cold, scary one!

  29. umyeah says:

    Brad looks so much better with his hair cut and clean. Didn’t care for his greasy looks. And you could cut a diamond with Angelina’s cheekbones. My goodness gracious! Looks fab.

  30. serena says:

    WOW, can’t wait!!!

  31. rtms says:

    They seriously need to change the voice over in the trailer. He’s just too darn Disney sounding. So happy instead of foreboding and fearsome etc. Not to mention that prince philip looks like a boy bander, not a hardened soldier who could battle a dragon and go toe to toe with Mally.

  32. Peppa says:

    I feel like such a nerd, but I’m so excited for this movie!

  33. Moi says:

    I want to see it, but I was thinking that it was going to be about Maleficent’s background (how it all began), type of film and would be a bit darker.

    • Brittney says:

      @Moi … Based on the cast members’ filming schedules and the pictures we’ve seen from the set, I’m pretty sure the original concept will be the bulk of the film. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking, but I imagine the trailers will be edited to be Aurora-heavy, just to pull in moviegoers who want a more typical kind of fairy tale adaptation… or feel nostalgic about the original Sleeping Beauty.

      Here’s the official synopsis: “A beautiful, pure-hearted young woman, Maleficent has an idyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army threatens the harmony of the land. Maleficent rises to be the land’s fiercest protector, but she ultimately suffers a ruthless betrayal—an act that begins to turn her pure heart to stone. Bent on revenge, Maleficent faces an epic battle with the invading king’s successor and, as a result, places a curse upon his newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Maleficent realizes that Aurora holds the key to peace in the kingdom—and perhaps to Maleficent’s true happiness as well.”

  34. Kali says:

    Good goddamn, those cheekbones. Am so happy to see Angelina back on screen.

  35. ClaireB says:

    I just hope they won’t find a rational explanation for everything mysterious and scary that the original film had, like “Alice in wonderland” by Tim Burton style. I’m afraid that’s the goal. But will see it anyway because ANGELINA.

  36. Meme says:

    Looks bad to me. What’s with lady caca’s cheekbones.

    • Maya says:

      Umm – maybe you should see the original Sleeping Beauty (the cartoon) before commenting.

      Maleficent is known for the horns and those cheekbones – its her trademark alongside the evil laugh.

  37. jessica says:

    Man the link has been blocked by Disney.. ffppttt!!!!