If the rumors are true, Disney isn’t just planning a third Maleficent film. It may be building an entire world around it first.
According to a report from The DisInsider, the reason Disney has yet to officially announce Maleficent 3 despite star Angelina Jolie previously confirming she’s signed on for another chapter in the franchise, is because the studio is quietly developing something much bigger: a spin-off film titled Fey Island.
The project is said to expand the lore of the dark “Fey” creatures introduced in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, the 2019 sequel that earned $490 million at the worldwide box office. Described as “a National Geographic-style exploration of the magical world,” Fey Island sounds like nothing Disney has attempted before. The vision, per the report, is an immersive visual experience that takes audiences through a variety of environments, landscapes, and cultures within the enchanting world of the Fey, all wrapped around a heartfelt, emotionally raw story.
Angelina Jolie and Producer Roy Conli Are Reportedly Attached to the Maleficent Project
Think of it less as a traditional sequel and more as a lush, cinematic deep-dive into a fantasy universe that fans of the franchise have only glimpsed from the outside.
Both Jolie and producer Roy Conli, best known for his work on several DisneyNature documentaries, are reportedly attached to the project as producers. The plan, sources say, is for Fey Island to essentially function as a proof of concept. If the film performs well, it paves the way for Maleficent 3 to finally move forward.
It’s worth noting The DisInsider is running this as a rumor, and Disney has not officially confirmed any of it. But there’s at least one compelling piece of circumstantial evidence that suggests the studio is very serious about this franchise’s future. Earlier, The Wrap reported that Disney is investing “hundreds of millions” of dollars into a Maleficent attraction at its planned Villains Land theme park. That’s not the kind of money a studio spends on a character it isn’t fully committed to.
The Maleficent franchise, of course, reimagines the iconic villain from Disney’s beloved 1959 animated classic Sleeping Beauty, recasting her as a misunderstood protector of the Moors whose revenge curse on Princess Aurora ultimately gives way to something far more complicated and tender. The original 2014 film starring Jolie and Elle Fanning was a massive hit, grossing over $758 million worldwide and launching what has quietly become one of Disney’s more intriguing live-action franchises.
Whether Fey Island is the next step or simply a detour, one thing is clear: Disney’s faith in the world of Maleficent is anything but cursed.
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