Maleficent: Mistress of Evil – 5 Reasons We Need A Sequel (& 5 We Don’t)

No one really saw a Maleficent sequel coming since live-action remakes are usually stand-alone projects and no one expects them to branch into a full-blown franchise, since the fairy tale or stories they are based on aren’t exactly elaborate. So Disney really surprised fans when it announced Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, especially because they couldn’t fathom what the sequel could be about since the first film wrapped up Maleficent’s trajectory so neatly.

But the second film, despite some creative flaws, was a really interesting watch, especially since the makers smoothed a few rough stylistic edges and brought in Michelle Pfeiffer. But should the franchise get a third installment? If yes, what would be its premise? And most importantly, what would Maleficent’s agenda be in this one? Here are all the reasons why Maleficent: Mistress of Evil should and shouldn’t get a sequel

10 Need A Sequel: A Great Perspective On The Anti-Heroine

Angelina’s empowering and unapologetic take on the erstwhile Disney villain is the best thing about this franchise. It’s important to note that in the sequel Jolie doesn’t really go through an epiphany or a transformation or any of the formulaic narrative tropes fairy tales usually rely on.

She’s still the same person, she’s unyielding, fierce, and relentlessly protective of her realm, and the fact that she also has to navigate parenthood now is just an update, and did not mess with her character design. With Mistress of Evil Disney has finally worked on correcting the problematic stereotypes it has always propagated, especially with its strong and powerful women which make a great case for a sequel.

9 Doesn’t Need A Sequel: Does Not Have A Strong Premise

Many critics insisted that Maleficent didn’t need a sequel at all, it could be left alone like a stand-alone live-action remake like Beauty and the Beast or Cinderella. But since the first movie worked so well, and fans couldn’t get enough of Angelina’s intriguing godmother, the producers obviously treated the sequel like a cash cow.

But the fact remains that the franchise stands upon a tale that is very comprehensive and Maleficent’s role cannot be stretched beyond a particular point. This makes it really hard to envision a third installment, considering the second movie itself was built on very shaky grounds.

8 Needs A Sequel: A Fairy Tale Franchise In The Age Of Superheroes

Of course, it’s great that a fairy tale franchise has shaped up in Hollywood at a time when the market is dominated by comic book superheroes. It brings out an important parallel between the influence of old school fairy tales and the relevance of comic books on younger audiences.

While superhero outings are very relevant now, what with the unpredictability around us and their subtle political statements, fairy tale movies need a serious rehash owing to some problematic narratives that are usually found in these stories. And for the most part, Disney has managed to design the franchise just right by doing away with the elements which were too dated or patriarchal and by sticking to a rather simplistic story-telling. Another sequel could work if they follow the same style.

7 Doesn’t Need A Sequel: Repetitive Elements

Unlike superhero franchises or the Harry Potter prequels, fairy tale franchises are harder to establish because they have to use the same setting for the most part. Doctor Strange could have his next adventure in Australia or the North Pole and Newt Scamander could land up in ‘70s Russia but Maleficent and Aurora can’t really leave the moors.

This makes it hard for certain fairy tale films to come up with sequels; even Frozen had to bring in new geographical updates in its sequel. Another film would require some serious imagination to find new ground to cover.

6 Need A Sequel: Offers A Post-Disney Take

The Maleficent franchise essentially gave Disney a fresh lease of life. It made Disney relevant in an age when children aren’t looking at fairy tales anymore, by giving a fresh look to old characters from fables and making them credible role models.

Maleficent 2 especially is an out-and-out feminist film that explores dynamics between powerful women and sticks to a female-led perspective by making Jolie’s character a secure leader who is grounded and powerful. If the film does get a sequel perhaps Disney could rely on this aspect of the franchise and work on something that is even more empowering. 

5 Doesn’t Need A Sequel: Makers Would Need To Take Too Many Liberties

Maleficent is a crucial part of Aurora’s story but at the end of the day Aurora’s story ends after she gets married to the prince, and hence Maleficent’s story also ends there. For the franchise to actually move ahead the makers would literally have to add to the storyline, and thus mess with the literary canon.

And while that has often happened with science fiction films, superhero films, and Harry Potter, it may not work in the case of adaptations of fairy tales because there is very little material and backstory to work with.

4 Needs A Sequel: An Impeccable Costume Drama

The reason Maleficent 2 was fiercer and more aesthetically designed was that the makers identified it’s credibility as a costume drama, one that can masquerade as a period piece and not just a live-action fairy tale remake.

The attention to costuming, the design language, the wardrobe detailing, the approach to color palates, everything made the film a visual spectacle. So, yes there’s something to be said about how the makers have transcended the fairy tale barrier to create a fantastical, couture-powered saga, and a sharp director could really use this aspect to work out a new movie.

3 Doesn’t Need A Sequel: Doesn’t Have A Lot Of Room For A-Listers

Every franchise that has survived in Hollywood has done so with the help of big banner names unless it’s something like Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes which has other redeeming qualities. But the point is, the possibility of adding more and more big names is a crowd-puller for most cinematic universes.

Since Jolie dominates so much of screen time, chances are not a whole lot of leading names would want to be attached with the project, unless it’s for a cameo. And that makes it really tricky for the makers to attract newer audiences.

2 Needs A Sequel: Not Enough Kid-Friendly Fantasy Outings

With gratuitous violence becoming almost a mandate in most superhero outings, they are obviously not the best watch for children. Even Mulan was a tricky watch for kids. And most sci-fi outings too usually opt for a darker, gritty premise which naturally keeps the kids away.

And children need some well-made live-action movies based on fairy tales or comic books, so the Maleficent series could anchor their next sequel around that. But the makers have to be decisive about the demographic it’s focusing on and can’t really try to balance all kinds of viewers. 

1 Doesn’t Need A Sequel: Maleficent Has Run Out Of Causes

In the franchise, Maleficent has two priorities, Aurora’s wellbeing and helping the faes earn their rightful place and dignity. Since she seems to have solved both the issues another film will have to dig really deep and perhaps come up with something totally original to actually make another film, because Maleficent is a leader; without a worthy cause, her character design falls apart.

The problem is that the audiences will see right through the attempts at milking a franchise till it’s absolutely dead and since Maleficent 1 and 2 were backed by the Charles Parrault fairy tale, if a Maleficent 3 does happen it will need to add to the canon or maybe change its tone completely which could be really difficult. 

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