Disney Developing Original ‘Sleeping Beauty’-Inspired Movie with Revealed Director

Few Disney tales have been reimagined as frequently as ‘Sleeping Beauty’. The classic animated film from 1959 tells the story of Princess Aurora, who is cursed by Maleficent to fall into a deep sleep after pricking her finger on a spinning wheel’s spindle before her 16th birthday. Fortunately, three good fairies alter the curse, ensuring that only a kiss from her true love can awaken her.

Disney previously revisited this story in live action with the 2014 film ‘Maleficent’, which presented the narrative from the villain’s viewpoint, followed by the sequel ‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’ in 2019. The first installment was a box office success, grossing $759.8 million worldwide.

Now, the studio is gearing up for a fresh take. According to a Deadline exclusive, director Dan Trachtenberg, known for ‘Prey’, is set to helm an original film inspired by the beloved ‘Sleeping Beauty’ story. Sources indicate that this new project will not be linked to the ‘Maleficent’ films featuring Angelina Jolie.

The untitled film is currently in the early stages of development, with plot specifics being closely guarded. Deadline reports that it will take the fairy tale in a completely new direction, showcasing Trachtenberg’s unique vision.

Trachtenberg collaborated with Raya McClendon on the story, while Alex Anfanger and Dan Schimpf are responsible for the screenplay. He will produce the film alongside his longtime partner Ben Rosenblatt and ‘Star Wars’ producer Michelle Rejwan.

Disney executives overseeing the project include Jessica Virtue and Alina Mota, who report to Daria Cercek, the President of Disney Live Action.

The announcement has sparked some surprise, with World of Reel describing it as an unusual combination. Anfanger and Schimpf come from a background in absurdist comedy, having co-created the Comedy Central series ‘Big Time in Hollywood, FL’, which implies that this may not be a conventional retelling.

This aligns with Trachtenberg’s career, which is marked by unexpected interpretations of well-known properties. His breakout film ‘Prey’ revitalized the Predator franchise, achieving significant success on Hulu and earning an Emmy nomination for best TV movie.

The relationship between Trachtenberg and Disney is already strong. Following ‘Prey’, he worked on ‘Predator: Badlands’ and the animated ‘Predator: Killer of Killers’ for Hulu, both of which have received high praise, with all three of his Predator entries being the highest-rated in the franchise on Rotten Tomatoes.

His feature debut was ’10 Cloverfield Lane’, and he also directed the pilot episode of ‘The Boys’. This blend of tension, character development, and genre innovation may make him an intriguing choice for a fairy tale that has been told countless times.

Trachtenberg is not lacking in projects. He is currently in pre-production on a secret film at Paramount, where he signed a first-look deal earlier this year. Additionally, he is attached to ‘Freddy the 13th’, an animated horror comedy for Paramount Animation based on the indie comic by Yehudi Mercado.

Despite his busy schedule, he has expressed his intention to continue collaborating with Disney and 20th Century Studios on future Predator projects. The ‘Sleeping Beauty’ film represents a new chapter in that partnership.

With no cast, title, or release date announced yet, much about the film’s tone remains speculative. However, the clear intention to distance this project from the ‘Maleficent’ films suggests that Disney is aiming for a fresh start rather than a sequel or spinoff.

This opens the door for unexpected developments. A director renowned for reinventing monster narratives, paired with writers from the absurdist comedy realm, could lead to a princess story unlike anything seen before.

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