Juno Temple Joins Disney's 'MALEFICENT' Starring Angelina Jolie And Elle Fanning

HeatVision reports that British actress Juno Temple (Dark Knight Rises) has joined the growing cast of Maleficent. Disney's live-action adaptation of Sleeping Beauty which stars Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning.

'MALEFICENT' Gets A Supporting Cast, Elle Fanning Confirmed For Aurora

HeatVision reports that a slew of British actors have joined Disney's Maleficent, their live-action adaptation of Sleeping Beauty. The new additions include Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake, Alice In Wonderland Harry Potter), Miranda Richardson (Harry Potter, Black Adder), Sam Riley (Control), Kenneth Cranham (Rome, Layer Cake) and Lesley Manville (Another Year). Sam Riley has the most interesting role of the bunch as he'll play Maleficent's (Jolie) right hand raven who can turn into a human being. Elle Fanning has finally been confirmed for the part of Princess Aurora with Sharlto Copley playing her father and Angelina Jolie the evil Maleficent.

Elle Fanning In Talks For Princess Aurora In Disney's Maleficent

Twitch reports that the rising star Elle Fanning is now in talks to take the Sleeping Beauty role as Princess Aurora in Disney's Maleficent. The film produced by Joe Roth (Alice In Wonderland, Oz The Great And Powerful) has Angelina Jolie attached to play the villainous sorceress. Along with former production designer Robert Stromberg set to direct. Fanning has been having an amazing run of projects recently with roles in films like Benjamin Button, Somewhere, Super 8 and We Bought A Zoo.

UPDATE: HeatVision adds that Disney is looking for a June production start in London.

Robert Stromberg Will Direct Maleficent For Disney

Disney originally had Tim Burton set to direct Maleficent (a reimagining of Sleeping Beauty) with Angelina Jolie in mind to star as the villain. The project came about during the massive success of Burton's take on Alice In Wonderland. Disney hoped he could bring the same kind of magic for a new live-action Sleeping Beauty film. It's unknown if Jolie will indeed will end up in the role of Maleficent as it hasn't been made official. Deadline reports that Robert Stromberg will replace Burton as the movie's director. Stromberg is mostly known as production designer and apart of visual effects department on some rather large films.

His credits include production designs for Avatar, Alice In Wonderland and Sam Raimi's Oz, The Great And Powerful. Robert also did visual effects on Boardwalk Empire, The Pacific. Tropic Thunder, Pirates: At World's End, Solaris (2002), Bad Boys 2, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Chronicles of Riddick, Pan's Labyrinth and Shutter Island. I have a strong feeling that this film will end up looking gorgeous but ends up more similar to the tone of Snow White And The Huntsmen.

It's interesting to see how Disney handles their live-action tentpoles considering they have to make these films different enough from their Marvel superhero films. Lone Ranger and Oz seem to keep Disney's fantasy tradition intact while staying in their respected genres. I assume like Alice, Maleficent could look unrecognizable from the original animated film.