‘Maleficent’ sequel a puzzle for director
Joachim Rønning found the answer in Michelle Pfeiffer
Making a movie is a daunting task for a director. Everything fromwhere to put a comma in the script to the color of amythical creature’s hair falls under the decisions they must make in the gamble that all the pieces come together to make thework successful.
Director Joachim Rønning (“Marco Polo”) faced all the regular challenges when making “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,” plus an additional hurdle. “Maleficent” was a massive hit because of the larger-thanlife performance by Angelina Jolie as the title character.
The sequel has an older Aurora (Elle Fanning) splitting her time between reigning over all the creatures who live in the forest and falling in love with Prince Phillip (Harris Dickinson). Maleficent isn’t crazy about thewedding but is willing to let the union happen so Aurora will be happy. That means meeting the in-laws, and that’s where Rønning faced his big test. Whodo you cast that can be just as dominating on the screen as Jolie? If the role of the manipulative Queen Ingrith isn’t played with the strength, intelligence and deep wickedness Jolie had shownin the first film, the clash of familieswould not have the necessary power to drive the production.
Rønning knew therewas only one performer who could handle such a task: Michelle Pfeiffer. Pfeiffer has been in some of his favorite films, including “The Fabulous Baker Boys,” “Age of Innocence,” “Dangerous Liaisons” and “Witches of Eastwick.” He also loved herwork playing Catwoman in “Batman
Returns,” a role Jolie says is her all-time favorite film villain.
“She is one of the few actors who can go up against Maleficent and Angelina Jolie,” Rønning says. “Those dayswere the best on the set whenwe had Angelina Jolie and Michelle Pfeiffer and Elle Fanning battling it out. …
You really feel so privileged.
“Not only are they playing iconic characters, but they are so iconic as actors. They are inmy book some of theworld’s best actors and some of the most famous.”
A lesser problem is the film being a sequel. The track record for follow-up movies has not been spectacular. TheNorway native went into his latest project with some knowledge of the iffy nature of sequels, having directed “Pirates of the Caribbean: DeadMen TellNo Tales.”
What he learnedwas a film can be full of visual splendor and massive special effects, but the bottom line is the characters have to be interesting and the story has to have an emotional core that resonates with viewers.
“That’s what appealed to me about the first film. I think what surprised audiences all over theworld was that theywere actually moved and gripped by it. Thatwas the story I wanted to continue telling, but you also have to take it to the next level,” Rønning says. “Iwas interested in an origin story forMaleficent and her discovering that she’s not the only one.
“That made the universe bigger.”
The universe of “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” is massive and includes a forest filled with strange creatures, a kingdom with a huge castle and caves and clouds where the fey are in hiding. Suchworlds can easily be created using computers but when possible, Rønning had sets built. Thiswas to give the actors a boost in finding the feeling of existing in the magicalworlds, rather than trying to imagine the world while staring at a green screen.
It took more than a year to combine the practical footage with the special effects, including a 20minute battle sequence that alone took nine months to edit. But, Rønning stresses all thework was necessary to make sure the sequel is big enough to entertain those who loved the original.
At the same time, Rønningwants “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” to have story elements that also make it bigger than the original. That includes plot points regarding tolerance and sexism.
“Part ofmy little dream herewas to have a message of kindness. I think our villain in the form of Queen Ingrith is very much controlling the narrative and using that as part of her power to divide people,” Rønning says. “There are definitely parallels to today’s society.
“What I love is at the end of the day you have your family and you come together and showan openness and interest in what’s not necessarily like yourself. But, you accept it. At the end of the day, that is the message of themovie.”