How do you know you've officially become the next Hollywood "it" girl? Easy. Get yourself cast as the younger Angelina Jolie in a sure-to-be blockbuster Disney film.
That's exactly what India Eisley has done. "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" star is set to play the more youthful version of Jolie's lead character in "Maleficent," a live-action retelling of "Sleeping Beauty."
Eisley joins a bevy of other stars newly signed on, including Sam Riley ("On the Road"), Lesley Manville ("Another Year") and Kenneth Cranham ("Layer Cake") in this Robert Stromberg-directed reboot of the classic fairytale, the Hollywood Wiretap reports.
Jolie is slated to play the titular witch who cursed Princess Aurora into a permanent sleep on her 16th birthday (tough deal, Aurora). This version, however, will be retold from Maleficent's point-of-view. Think "Wicked," but not a musical, and with Angie in the lead.
Elle Fanning will portray the unlucky Aurora, with Sharlto Copley as Stefan, the half-human, half-fairy bastard son of the human king. (He sounds kind of fun!) Imelda Staunton and Lesley Manville will play two of the three pixies who end up taking care of Aurora. No word yet on who (or what) Cranham will be playing, but we'll find out soon enough because "Maleficent" starts production in June.
Disney plans to release the fantasy flick on March 14, 2014.
