The Walt Disney Studios announced this week that production began Wednesday, June 13th, on “Maleficent,” starring Academy Award®–winning actress Angelina Jolie. The star of ‘Changeling’, ‘Wanted’ and the ‘Lara Croft’ movies has been filming in sunny Buckinghamshire. That would explain the recent sightings of Angelina in our very own London (Gord bless er!) taking her family to see West End musical hit WICKED. Obviously looking for some inspiration for her role as the evil witch Maleficent.

This is the untold story of Disney’s most beloved villain, Maleficent, from the 1959 classic animation ‘Sleeping Beauty’.The film reveals the events that hardened her heart and drove her to curse the baby, Aurora played by Elle Fanning (Super 8) sister of Dakota. The movie also co-stars Sharlto Copley (District 9), Sam Riley (Brighton Rock, On the Road), Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake), Juno Temple (Atonement) and Miranda Richardson (The Hours)

With two movie versions of the Snow White fairytale out this year it seems as though there is quite a bit of mileage to be had from the re-telling of these European children’s stories.

Unfortunately “Maleficent” will not be in cinemas until 2014 and yes it will be 3-D.