History Trivia / Maleficent

** Sharlto Copley [[DistrictNine once]] [[Film/{{Elysium}} again]] dons a suit of buffed up armor during the climax.

** Fans of {{Literature/NorthAndSouth}} might recognize Flittle as Margaret's mother.

** Fans of [[Literature/NorthAndSouth]] might recognize Flittle as Margaret's mother.

* ActorAllusion: AngelinaJolie as someone who controls a [[{{Film/Beowulf}} dragon]].

* ActorAllusion: AngelinaJolie as someone who famously turns into a [[{{Film/Beowulf}} dragon]]. [[spoiler:Ironically, ''Maleficent'' doesn't become a dragon in this movie, but she does transform Diaval into one.]]

* ActorAllusion: AngelinaJolie as someone who famously turns into a [[{{Film/Beowulf}} dragon]]. [[spoiler:Ironically, ''Maleficent'' does not transform into a dragon in this movie, but she does transform Diaval into one.]]

* HeyItsThatGuy: King Stefan is played by Howling Mad Murdock from the 2010 A-Team.

* ActorAllusion: AngelinaJolie as someone who [[ItWasHisSled famously]] turns into a [[{{Film/Beowulf}} dragon.]] [[spoiler: Ironically, she does NOT in this movie, however she does turn someone else.]]

** Knotgrass is [[HarryPotter Dolores Umbridge]].

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The original script had King Stefan as a much darker character, being the half-fairy bastard son of the King rather than just a farmboy, who never actually loved Maleficent at all (much like [[Disney/{{Frozen}} Hans]]), and who murders his father to take the throne rather win it from the already-dying King as in the finished film.

* ActorAllusion: AngelinaJolie as someone who [[ItWasHisSled famously]] turns into a [[{{Film/Beowulf}} dragon.]] [[spoiler: Ironically, she does NOT in this movie.]]

** Knotgrass is Dolores Umbridge

* FakeBrit: Elle Fanning as Aurora.
** Sharlto Copley as King Stefan

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The original script had King Stefan as a much darker character, being pretty much a CompleteMonster who was the half-fairy bastard son of the King rather than just a farmboy, who never actually loved Maleficent at all (much like [[{{Frozen}} Hans]]), and who murders his father to take the throne rather win it from the already-dying King as in the finished film.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The original script had King Stefan as a much darker character, being pretty much a CompleteMonster who was the half-fairy bastard son of the King rather than just a farmboy, who never actually loved Maleficent at all (like [[{{Frozen}} Hans]], and who murders his father to take the throne rather win it from the already-dying King as in the finished film.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The original script had King Stefan as a much darker character, being pretty much a CompleteMonster who was the half-fairy bastard son of the King rather than just a farmboy and who murders his father to take the throne rather win it from the already-dying King as in the finished film.

** Two of her other children are nobles in the Christening scene at the beginning.

* ActorAllusion: AngelinaJolie as someone who [[ItWasHisSled famously]] turns into a [[{{Film/Beowulf}} dragon.]]

* HeyItsThatGuy: King Stefan is being played by Howling Mad Murdock from the 2010 A-Team.

* RealLifeRelative: The girl who plays the young Aurora is played by Jolie's daughter. This had to be invoked since she was the only child that didn't get scared when they see Angelina in costume.

* RealLiveRelative: The girl who plays the young Aurora is played by Jolie's daughter. This had to be invoked since she was the only child that didn't get scared when they see Angelina in costume.

* TheOtherMarty: India Eisley was originally cast as Young Maleficent, but she was replaced with Ella Purnell after Disney executives expressed displeasure with her performance.

* DawsonCasting: Inverted. Aurora is 15/16, while Elle Fanning was 14 during filming. Compare that to the original film, where Aurora looked like she was in her 20s and was voiced by the just under thirty Mary Costa.

* DawsonCasting: Inverted. Aurora is 15/16, while Elle Fanning was 14 during filming. Compare that to the original film, where Aurora looked like she was in her 20s and was voiced by the 29-year-old Mary Costa.

* DawsonCasting: Inverted. Aurora is 15/16, while Elle Fanning was 14 during filming.

TheOtherMarty: India Eisley was originally cast as Young Maleficent, but she was replaced with Ella Purnell after Disney executives expressed displeasure with her performance.