Theater News

Tony Winner Kristin Chenoweth to Play Maleficent in New Disney Channel Original Movie

The ”Wicked” star will play Disney’s most wicked villainess in ”Descendants”.

Kristin Chenoweth has been selected to play Maleficent in the new Disney film Descendants.
Kristin Chenoweth has been selected to play Maleficent in the new Disney film Descendants.
(© Tristan Fuge)

Broadway, television, and film favorite Kristin Chenoweth has been cast as the evil fairy Maleficent in a new Disney Channel original movie titled Descendants. The live-action film will follow the adventures of the teenage children of iconic Disney villains and heroes.

In the film, Maleficent, originally a character in the 1959 animated film Sleeping Beauty, will come up against her daughter Mal, to be played by Liv and Maddie star Dove Cameron. Kenny Ortega will direct the film, which features a script by Josann McGibbon and Sara Parriott. The film will premiere in 2015.

Kristin Chenoweth's stage career has included a Tony-winning role in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and her Tony-nominated performance in the long-running Stephen Schwartz musical Wicked. She most recently appeared on Broadway in the revival of Promises, Promises. Her other television work has included a role on GCB, a recurring guest role on Glee, and appearances on The Good Wife.

Chenoweth is set to perform an all-new program titled The Evolution of a Soprano at Carnegie Hall on May 3, directed by Richard Jay-Alexander.