Disney is moving forward with a sequel to last year's blockbuster Maleficent, hiring screenwriter Linda Woolverton to write the script for this follow-up. Deadline reports that Disney is keeping star Angelina Jolie "in the loop," and that the sequel is being written for the actress to reprise her title role. It isn't known if other cast members will be back, such as Elle Fanning (Aurora), Sharlto Copley (Stefan), Lesley Manville (Flittle), Imelda Staunton (Knotgrass), Juno Temple (Thistlewit), Sam Riley (Diaval) and Brenton Thwaites (Prince Philip).

The studio will have to make a whole new deal with Angelina Jolie to come back for Maleficent 2, although the actress doesn't have a great track record with sequels thus far. She has developed sequels for Salt and Wanted, but neither project has gotten off the ground yet. Joe Roth is coming back to produce, but it isn't clear yet if director Robert Stromberg, an Oscar winning production designer who made his directorial debut on Maleficent, will be back at the helm.

Maleficent was a revisionist take on the iconic Sleeping Beauty villain, with the story told from her perspective, as we see her transform from her forest kingdom's fierce protector to a revenge-seeking villain after she was betrayed and her heart turned to stone. Maleficent took in over $760 million worldwide from an $180 million production budget. Are you looking forward to a Maleficent sequel?