Angelina Jolie to Star as 'Maleficent' in Live-Action SLEEPING BEAUTY

People.com reports that Academy Award-winning actress Angelina Jolie will portray 'Maleficent', the evil queen of Walt Disney's SLEEPING BEAUTY, in an upcoming live-action update of the 1959 animated-feature film. The movie, set to be released in theaters on March 14, 2014, will be told from the evil monarch's point of view.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, the actress explained, "It's not anti-princess. 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, and just because she protects herself and is aggressive, it doesn't mean she can't have other [warmer] qualities." Added Jolie, "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."

Robert Stromberg, the Oscar-winning production designer for Avatar and Alice in Wonderland, will make his directorial debut on the film, which will beproduced by Joe Roth.