‘Maleficent 2’ cast ‘Ed Skrein’ as villain, joining Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning

Deadpool actor Ed Skrein is in final negotiations to join Disney’s Maleficent sequel as the film’s villain.

Variety broke the news of the casting, confessing that “Exact details behind Skrein’s villain role are currently under wraps.”

Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning are confirmed to both be returning to reprise their respective roles: Maleficent and Aurora. The Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales director, Joachim Ronning, will be behind the camera.

Joe Roth is producing the film, with Jez Butterworth and Linda Woolverton penning the latest script. Micah Fitzerman-Blue & Noah Harpster wrote most recent draft.

Variety added that “It is not clear where this film will pick up following the first movie, which was based on the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. The original story centered on an evil fairy who cursed an infant princess to eternal sleep, only to realize the young girl was the only one who could save the kingdom from its dangerous ruler. Maleficent broke several box office records on its way to making $758.5 million worldwide.”

The film also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design.

The production on the sequel is set to start later this year

Skrein, who broke out as Ryan Reynolds nemesis in the first Deadpool, is also known for his role as Daario Naharis in HBO’s Game of Thrones.

There is no official release date set for Maleficent 2, but Spring of 2020 seems likely.