Maleficent: Mistress of Evil will now be released on October 18, 2019, instead of on its originally intended release date on May 29, 2020, according to Variety. The sequel in the Maleficent franchise comes 5 years after its initial debut which made $758.5 million globally. The sequel will follow the intricate relationship between the enchantress and Princess Aurora as they meet more obstacles and try to protect the creatures of the land.

Angelina Jolie will be assuming her role again as Maleficent. The returning cast also includes Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, and Lesley Manville. New additions to the film will feature Michelle Pfeiffer, Ed Skrein, Harris Dickinson, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Joachim Rønning, who also directed Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, will now be directing the film. Robert Stromberg had directed the first film.

Either date would still have resulted in the film competing with other major releases. The October release means that Maleficent 2 will be competing with an untitled film from Blumhouse, as well as The Goldfinch, Zombieland 2, Gemini Man, and The Addams Family, which will be an animated take on the original story. The May debut would have had the film up against Fast & Furious 9 and The Spongebob Movie.