Disney gives its Maleficent sequel a new title and an early release date


Disney is adding yet another film to its packed 2019 slate.
The studio on Wednesday announced that the Maleficent sequel, which is now being titled Mistress of Evil, will be released in October. A teaser poster showing Angelina Jolie back as the iconic Sleeping Beauty villain was also released.
This announcement came as a surprise considering Disney previously dated the film for May 29, 2020. The film now joins the company's ridiculously crowded 2019 lineup, which also consists of Captain Marvel, Dumbo, Avengers: Endgame, Aladdin, Toy Story 4, The Lion King, Artemis Fowl, Frozen II, and Star Wars: Episode IX. Needless to say, expect Disney to dominate the box office once again this year.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The first Maleficent was a surprisingly huge hit for Disney back in 2014, grossing $758 million worldwide. The success of that film, as well as Tim Burton's 2010 Alice in Wonderland, helped usher in the current era of Disney live-action remakes and reimaginings; in the same vein as Maleficent, a live-action film about One Hundred and One Dalmatians' Cruella de Vil is also in the works starring Emma Stone.
No plot details have been released about Mistress of Evil just yet, but it will be directed by Joachim Rønning (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) and also star Elle Fanning and Michelle Pfeiffer. It will be the first live-action feature film Jolie has starred in since 2015.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Cameron House Resort & Spa: a luxurious lakeside haven
The Week Recommends This stunning five-star resort on the shores of Loch Lomond is perfect for a special Scottish getaway
-
Albania’s AI government minister: a portent of things to come?
In The Spotlight A bot called Diella has been tasked with tackling the country's notorious corruption problem
-
Hyatt Regency Lisbon: a tranquil oasis in the historic district of Belém
The Week Recommends With its sprawling spa and prime location overlooking the River Tagus, this luxury hotel is a great place to escape the bustle of the city
-
Florida erases rainbow crosswalk at Pulse nightclub
Speed Read The colorful crosswalk was outside the former LGBTQ nightclub where 49 people were killed in a 2016 shooting
-
Trump says Smithsonian too focused on slavery's ills
Speed Read The president would prefer the museum to highlight 'success,' 'brightness' and 'the future'
-
Trump to host Kennedy Honors for Kiss, Stallone
Speed Read Actor Sylvester Stallone and the glam-rock band Kiss were among those named as this year's inductees
-
White House seeks to bend Smithsonian to Trump's view
Speed Read The Smithsonian Institution's 21 museums are under review to ensure their content aligns with the president's interpretation of American history
-
Charlamagne Tha God irks Trump with Epstein talk
Speed Read The radio host said the Jeffrey Epstein scandal could help 'traditional conservatives' take back the Republican Party
-
CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show'
Speed Read 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is ending next year
-
Shakespeare not an absent spouse, study proposes
speed read A letter fragment suggests that the Shakespeares lived together all along, says scholar Matthew Steggle
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play