When Disney's MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL arrives to cast a spell on audiences beginning on October 18th, the sequel to the studio's 2014 original fantasy smash could launch to $50 million at the box office. Centered on the sorceress of "Sleeping Beauty" fame, the sequel finds Angelina Jolie reprising her role as Maleficent, a fallen fairy of the Moors who after being sentenced to death by King Henry transforms her homeland into a fortress of brambles and hatred. After much blood is shed, Maleficent learns that a lover from her past, Stephan, has fathered a child named Aurora who's to one day become Queen of the land. After learning of the child's purpose, Maleficent places a curse upon her head, dooming the girl to death upon her 16th birthday. As time marches on, and battles are fought and won, Maleficent and Aurora eventually find themselves standing atop common ground and forge a plan to unite their respective kingdoms.
When MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL makes its theatrical debut, Disney's latest live-action fantasy adventure will find itself waging war against Sony's ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP for box office supremacy during its opening weekend. Early estimates have Ruben Fleischer's ZOMBIELAND sequel averaging between $23 to $25 million during its three-day debut, giving Disney's wicked witch a comfortable lead in ticket sales. That being said, Disney's live-action fairy tale sequel will also be up against films like Todd Phillips' JOKER (October 4th) and Paramount's GEMINI MAN (October 11th), which are both expected to perform well once they've landed in theaters.
Here's the official synopsis for MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL:
“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” is a fantasy adventure that picks up several years after “Maleficent,” in which audiences learned of the events that hardened the heart of Disney’s most notorious villain and drove her to curse a baby Princess Aurora. The film continues to explore the complex relationship between the horned fairy and the soon to be Queen as they form new alliances and face new adversaries in their struggle to protect the moors and the magical creatures that reside within.
Directed by Joachim Rønning, MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL stars Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Juno Temple, Ed Skrein and Chiwetel Ejiofor, among others. One of Disney's wickedest witches will return to theaters on October 18th.