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Maleficent is the directorial debut for Oscar-winning production designer and visual effects artist, Robert Stromberg (Avatar, Alice in Wonderland). Indeed, the film’s teaser trailer footage is as lush and gorgeously dark as one might imagine, based on its director’s background. Moreover, the scenery appears to be a healthy blend of practical sets and stylized digital elements, creating the impression of a world that is all too real and fantastical at once.

Check out high-quality screenshots from the Maleficent trailer, below:

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Based on what little is shown here, Jolie seems to be channeling the vocal mannerisms of Eleanor Audley, who voiced Maleficent in Disney’s animated Sleeping Beauty feature; a fine decision, if that’s the case. Similarly, Fanning looks to be wise casting too, as far as her playing a princess for the 21st-century (read: more grounded version of Aurora). And this teaser doesn’t even feature the other members of the film’s reputable cast, which includes Sharlto Copley (Oldboy), Miranda Richardson (Harry Potter), Imelda Staunton (Another Year), Peter Capaldi (Doctor Who) and Juno Temple (Horns).

Of course, whether Maleficent will have the narrative substance to go along with the eye candy and excellent cast, is another matter. Painting villains in a more sympathetic light is in fashion right now, as the popularity of characters such as Loki in the Thor movies is a testament to. There’s certainly potential for Jolie’s evil fairy to wind up being a compelling Shakespearean tragedy case study, but as always we’ll have to wait and see…