Disney is positioning this as a bold, fresh artistic reinterpretation that leverages Trachtenberg’s critical success with Predator to revitalize a legacy IP without relying on previous cinematic universes.
Insiders are buzzing about the explicit disclaimer that this has zero connection to the Maleficent films. Why the need to distance it so aggressively from Angelina Jolie’s hit franchise? Is it a creative difference, or are they trying to avoid the baggage of the live-action remake controversy?
Trachtenberg’s three Predator projects (Prey, Predator: Badlands, and Predator: Killer of Killers) are the highest-rated in the franchise on Rotten Tomatoes. The script is by Alex Anfanger and Dan Schimpf, co-creators of Big Time In Hollywood, FL.
Trachtenberg is the only director who can make a princess movie feel dangerous, but this hard pivot away from Maleficent suggests Disney knows exactly what they’re trying to avoid.
The Mouse House is handing the keys to the castle to Dan Trachtenberg, and if you’re expecting another glittery, safe retelling, you’re dead wrong. Sources tell Deadline that the director behind the critically acclaimed Prey is developing an original project inspired by Sleeping Beauty. This isn’t a sequel, a remake, or a spin-off.
It’s a fresh spin, and it’s coming from a filmmaker who just proved he can resurrect a dormant sci-fi horror franchise with visceral, character-driven storytelling. The fact that Disney is trusting a Predator director with their most iconic princess tale is a massive signal that they want to shake up the live-action formula. Here is the tea, and it’s hot: this new Sleeping Beauty project has absolutely no connection to the Maleficent films starring Angelina Jolie.
That disclaimer is doing a lot of heavy lifting. Why would Disney feel the need to explicitly sever ties with a franchise that grossed billions? It suggests Trachtenberg’s vision is radically different, perhaps darker or more grounded, than the fantasy-heavy approach Jolie’s films took.
Trachtenberg and his producing partner Rayna McClendon came up with the story themselves, meaning this is a director-led vision, not a corporate committee’s attempt to squeeze more juice out of an existing IP. It’s a bold move to start from scratch when you have a proven box office engine in Maleficent. The creative team is a mix of high-concept horror and sharp comedy.
Trachtenberg will produce alongside longtime partner Ben Rosenblatt and Star Wars producer Michelle Rejwan, who oversees the live-action side of the Lucasfilm universe. But the script? That’s in the hands of Alex Anfanger and Dan Schimpf, the co-creators of the Comedy Central series Big Time In Hollywood, FL.
This pairing is intriguing. It suggests the tone might balance Trachtenberg’s tension with Anfanger and Schimpf’s satirical edge. Is this a horror-comedy?
A dark fairy tale? The plot details are under wraps, but the involvement of these specific writers hints at something smarter and more subversive than your standard princess narrative. Trachtenberg’s track record with Disney is currently unblemished.
His 2022 film Prey earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding TV Movie and holds a 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes, as does his recent animated project Predator: Killer of Killers. These are the highest-rated entries in the entire Predator franchise. He is currently in pre-production on a top-secret Paramount film, which likely means he’s juggling a heavy slate.
But with Jessica Virtue and Alina Mota overseeing this project for Disney Live Action president Daria Cercek, the studio is clearly prioritizing this development. The question remains: can Trachtenberg’s signature intensity translate to Sleeping Beauty, or will the fairy tale magic dilute his edge? We’ll be watching every frame.
