Tim Burton’s Maleficent?

by Jack on January 19, 2010 · 6 comments

maleficentHarry Knowles of Ain’t It Cool News (if you don’t know who he is…you should) reports, from a source of his, that Tim Burton is developing a take on the classic Sleeping Beauty tale, told through the viewpoint of villain Maleficent.

While I love a good old twisted fairytale (PC game American McGee’s Alice being the finest example), I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this… It’s a good concept, and has potential, but I don’t know that Tim Burton is the man to execute it. I love a few of his films (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Ed Wood, Edward Scissorhands), but the majority of his efforts greatly favour style over substance, and even his uniquely gothic aesthetic seems to be getting a bit tired.

Personally, I don’t think Alice in Wonderland looks terribly original/exciting, but I’ll withhold judgement till I’ve seen it – I hope Maleficent goes for a much darker approach. I also hope Burton doesn’t feel the need to cast Helena Bonham Carter in the lead role…I don’t dislike her as an actress, but I hated the inevitability of her portraying the Red Queen in Alice (you don’t always have to give roles to your partner, Tim). Still…I’ll try not to knock it till I’ve tried it. Maleficent that is. Not Bonham Carter.

A more interesting dark fairytale: Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth) producing a stop-motion Pinocchio. Eventually. Yes please.

  • vcurtz

    I would LOVE that! >:D

  • Sparky

    CORRECTION: Guillermo del Toro is PRODUCING Pinocchio!
    It's going to be directed and mostly written by a guy named Gris Grimly. The look of the film is going to be based on the illustrations Grimly provided for a publication of the book.
    PLEASE TO CHECK OUT HIS STUFF!
    http://www.madcreator.com

    Grimly had a meeting with Guillermo, the other producers, and animators not long ago in LA.. so it's DEFINITELY on its way! Be sure to look out for a Grimly illustrated edition of Frankenstein, too!

    on another note: i'm so god dang tired of tim buron. He's becoming a caricature of himself. Old hat. Gris Grimly is going to be a breath of fresh air once he gets on the scene.

  • Sparky

    P.S. Yes I said animators. It's going to be a stop motion animated film. ^^

  • Jack

    Yeah, I just meant “making” as a sort of all-encompassing “he's involved” term…anyhoo, has been corrected. :D

  • Jack

    And yes, I agree about Gris Grimly, should be great!

  • http://www.r4i-karte.at/ buy r4 ds

    Well, I WONDER who's going to play Maleficent. Judging how Depp won't agree to be in drag, (despite Burton's desire), we can all only awesome the female counterpart to play Maleficent. I can barely see her working, but CGI Is a wonderful thing…