MALEFICENT

Mistress of Evil projected to topple Joker

It is still three days out from hitting theatres all across the world.

But the buzz behind Angelina Jolie's new film Maleficent: Mistress of Evil has the dark fantasy adventure on track to topple

Joker for the number one spot at the box office with about $45 million in its opening weekend, according to Variety. The sequel, which is Disney's live action spin-off of Sleeping Beauty, features a cast that includes returnees Elle Fanning, Sam

Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, and Lesley Manville and newcomers Michelle Pfeiffer, Ed Skrein and Chiwetel Ejoifor.

Despite the optimistic projection, the Maleficent sequel is still pacing behind the original 2014 film, which raked-in $69 million in its opening weekend, making it the largest opening-weekend performance for a live-action film starring Jolie.

It went on to become a bonafide box office hit, earning more than $758 million worldwide.

This weekend's projection has Joker and the new movie Zombieland: Double Tap competing for second place, with both predicted to make somewhere between $20 million and $30 million.

Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix in the iconic role, has been tops at the box office, raking in more than $200 million domestically in 11 days.the Maleficent sequel is also opening this weekend at all of the major international markets.

The promo push ahead of this weekend's release included premieres in Rome, London, Moscow, along with the big September 30 showing in Hollywood.