Jolie turns wicked as Disney’s ‘Maleficent’ in live-action Sleeping Beauty

On Monday, Walt Disney Studios announced a March 14, 2014 release date for their upcoming live-action film "Maleficent."

Since the 1959 release of "Sleeping Beauty," Maleficent has been the iconic evil fairy godmother of the beloved Princess Aurora.

This modern day edition of the classic fairy-tale will chronicle Maleficent’s side of the story, including her origins and her reasons for cursing the princess.

Angelina Jolie has confirmed that she will play the lead role of Maleficent in the film.

"I loved her when I was a little girl. She was my favorite," Jolie told MTV News of her character.

Joe Roth, who will act as producer for "Maleficent," is the head of a trio who brought you Tim Burton’s "Alice in Wonderland." Linda Woolverton wrote the script and the award-winning Robert Stromberg is in the director’s chair.

Though Stromberg has never directed in the past, he has won Academy Awards for his art direction in "Alice in Wonderland" and "Avatar."

Jolie believes the movie will send a positive message to young girls because it shows how different a story can be from someone else’s point of view.

"It’s not anti-princess," Jolie said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. "But it’s the first time they’re looking at this epic woman ... I hope in the end, you see a woman who is capable of being many things."

She also stresses that even though the story is told through Maleficent’s eyes, Princess Aurora will in no way be portrayed as the bad guy.

"What our challenge will be – and the script writer has already cracked it – is to not simplify it, not to just reverse the story but tell a bigger story that doesn’t point the finger (at Princess Aurora) either," she said.

For anyone who doesn’t know, "Sleeping Beauty" was one of Disney’s first and most iconic animated princess/fairy-tale films. It was the 16th installment in a series of animated fairy-tale classics and the last of the genre produced by Walt Disney himself (after Walt’s death, the studio returned to the genre with "The Little Mermaid" in 1989).

According to Jolie, production of "Maleficent" is rumored to begin in June this year.

"It’s a really great script. I’m having a lot of fun. I’ve already got my horns fitted. My kids are very happy," she said.

The film is sure to be an exciting and memorable experience for people of all ages and a very original take on the timeless story of "Sleeping Beauty."