The incredibly beautiful princess, the evil stepmother consumed by jealousy, the hunky prince who comes to her eventual rescue astride a noble steed - it's all part of the classic fairy tale formula.
Modern reboots, however, are ushering in a fantastical redux that goes far beyond the jubilant, happily ever after to unearth other characters lurking between the lines.
On Tuesday, Walt Disney Studios released a striking first look at Angelina Jolie as title character, "Maleficent," which started production June 13 in London.
"I've already got my horns fitted. My kids are very happy," Jolie said to EW.
"Maleficent" will tell the traditional "Sleeping Beauty" tale, but this time, it will be from the evil fairy's perspective, which means learning the revealing back story that led Aurora's nemesis to curse the newborn baby.
The 3-D film, set to debut March 14, 2014, co-stars "Super 8's" Elle Fanning as Aurora and is directed by Robert Stromberg, the Oscar-winning production designer of "Avatar" and "Alice in Wonderland." That track record alone means this flick should be nothing short of visually spectacular.
Jolie joins 5 stars that have recently stepped into storybook roles as part of the modern fairy tale movement:
Kristen Stewart
Bella Swan puts on a corset to play Snow White in a very dark, gritty twist on the traditional fairy tale. And, Chris Hemsworth is in it. Enough said.
Charlize Theron
The statuesque actress so lost herself in her role as evil Queen Ravenna that she told MTV she tore a stomach muscle yelling. She could probably also kill Snow White with just a frosty glare.
Johnny Depp
Playing a heroic Mad Hatter meant seeing the eccentric actor and his equally eccentric bestie, director Tim Burton, team up for the seventh time. The upside? Fantastically trippy.
Helena Bonham Carter
There's nothing like a deranged, bobble-headed clown lady with a receding hairline and a penchant for warm pigs to make things deliciously terrifying. Crispin Glover and his go-go-gadget legs definitely helped.
Ginnifer Goodwin
The small- and silver screen actress has made a career of playing likable ladies, and her take on a Snow White trapped in modern-day Maine is addictive and enchanting. As is Josh Dallas.
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