The First MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL Teaser Has Arrived

Five years (which may as well be a lifetime in this economy) after Maleficent hit theaters, the sequel is finally upon us. Angelina Jolie's sinister but sympathetic Disney witch returns in the first teaser for Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, which apparently still somehow takes place before the events of Sleeping Beauty, if I'm reading this footage correctly: 

Michelle Pfeiffer is looking regal as all hell in that teaser, and while I'm not entirely sold on this sequel just yet (I did enjoy the first one, for what it's worth), that's a pretty solid reason to watch. Also on board for the second go-round are Chiwetel Ejiofor (another damn fine reason to watch), Sam Riley, Harris Dickinson, Ed Skrein (he's gotta be playing a bad guy, right?), Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple and Lesley Manville. 

Here's the official synopsis for Maleficent: Mistress of Evil – not to be confused with Elvira: Mistress of the Dark or Ouija: Origin of Evil: 

“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” is a fantasy adventure that picks up several years after “Maleficent,” in which audiences learned of the events that hardened the heart of Disney’s most notorious villain and drove her to curse a baby Princess Aurora. The film continues to explore the complex relationship between the horned fairy and the soon to be Queen as they form new alliances and face new adversaries in their struggle to protect the moors and the magical creatures that reside within. The film is directed by Joachim Rønning from a story by Linda Woolverton and a screenplay by Linda Woolverton and Micah Fitzerman-Blue & Noah Harpster, the film is produced by Joe Roth, Angelina Jolie and Duncan Henderson with Matt Smith, Jeff Kirschenbaum and Michael Vieira serving as executive producers.

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil hits theaters on October 18 (spooky!).