Imelda Staunton, Miranda Richardson, Sam Riley & Lesley Manville Join 'Maleficent' With Angelina Jolie

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by Kevin Jagernauth
May 7, 2012 4:54 PM
9 Comments

With cameras set to roll this summer, "Maleficent" is moving fast, and after adding Sharlto Copley last week, it has bolstered the cast with some more, mostly British names.

THR reports that Imelda Staunton ("Vera Drake," "Alice In Wonderland"), Miranda Richardson (legend, you should already know), Sam Riley ("Control," "On The Road"), Lesley Manville ("Another Year") and Kenneth Cranham ("Made In Dagenham," "Valkyrie") have all come aboard the Angelina Jolie fairy tale vehicle. The live-action film will explore the origins of the evil fairy Maleficent and what led her to curse Princess Aurora in Disney’s animated classic "Sleeping Beauty." And though her name seems to have appearing/disappearing in reports from the trades on the movie, it looks like Elle Fanning is on board, so there you go. So yes, it's another revisionist fairy tale movie, but this cast isn't one to sneeze at.

Mike Leigh veterans Staunton and Manville will pair up to play pixies Knotgrass and Flittle, who care for Aurora. Richardson will play Maleficent's aunt Queen Ella, who doesn't particularly care for her niece, while the boys Cranham and Riley will play, respectively, a human king who plots to conquer the fairy kingdom and Diaval, a raven who can change into human form, and is Maleficent's right hand man. So yeah, sounds like this one will be epic in scope and have a shitload of special effects.

That's probably why we're not going to see the movie until March 14, 2014. But that will give plenty of time to first time director/Oscar winning production designer Robert Stromberg to get it right.

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More: Maleficent, Imelda Staunton, Miranda Richardson, Sam Riley, Lesley Manville

9 Comments

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padre | May 8, 2012 1:53 PMReply

Aside from superstar Jolie, this cast is horrifyingly low wattage. OMINOUS. There is also no "hot guy" factor for the ladies and no sexual sizzle. Is there a male role yet to be announced?!
88 | May 8, 2012 2:48 PM

These actresses are great additions to any cast. Angelina Jolie is more than enough star wattage for one movie. Your high hopes, were they hopes for amazing box office, or that it would be a good movie?
padre | May 8, 2012 2:18 PM

Of all the movies you could have cited, you choose the one with Johnny Depp and Anne Hathaway?! And even lesser lights Helena Bonham Carter or Stephen Fry. Are you posting drunk or are you just Imelda Staunton's biggest fan? Aside from Jolie, there is nobody in Maleficent's cast that can stand up to an Alice In Wonderland comparison. This is a depressing admission from me, as I had high hopes for this. Cutting my box office expectations in half now.
Kevin | May 8, 2012 1:56 PM

You know what other cast was "low wattage"? "Alice In Wonderland." It made a billion dollars. This is the Angelina Jolie show and it will be sold as such.
jingmei | May 7, 2012 9:55 PMReply

How come Hollywood mainstream star calls on English talents especially the fucking adorable Sam Riley to get together.
teene | May 7, 2012 5:08 PMReply

Cackling at how out of place Jolie is in this now. People with actual talent!
ren | May 7, 2012 11:31 PM

Just goes to show you how out of touch the Oscars are.
HG | May 7, 2012 11:16 PM

and who has an oscar out of the cast?

yup jolie
Frank | May 7, 2012 5:03 PMReply

Whoa, major hotties.