The third installment in the Maleficent franchise, Maleficent 3: Dark Fae (2025), dives deeper into the complex world of dark magic, ancient kingdoms, and long-buried secrets. Following the events of Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019), the story picks up with Aurora now fully embracing her role as Queen of the Moors, but dark forces continue to threaten her kingdom and the fragile peace she has fought to build.

Plot: The peaceful rule of Queen Aurora (Elle Fanning) is once again under threat as a new dark force emerges from the shadows. In the wake of Maleficent’s (Angelina Jolie) redemption, the two have established a tentative bond, but the realm is still fraught with tension between the fairies and humans. The kingdom is on the brink of collapse as ancient magic is unleashed, and the very fabric of their world is at risk of unraveling.

A new adversary, The Dark Fae, led by the vengeful and powerful sorceress Seraphina (played by a new yet to be revealed actress), appears to have risen from the forgotten corners of the magical world. Seraphina, once a high-ranking member of the ancient Fae council, seeks revenge on both Maleficent and Aurora. She believes that Maleficent’s actions, which have bridged the gap between the fairies and humans, have caused the fall of the Fae’s purest magic, and she intends to restore the ancient dominance of her kind at all costs.

Seraphina’s power is tied to an ancient artifact, the Heart of the Fae, a magical relic capable of amplifying the powers of the Fae to unimaginable levels. She uses this artifact to raise an army of twisted creatures and cast a dark curse over the Moors, causing the once-vibrant kingdom to begin withering away.

As Maleficent grapples with her own darker instincts, torn between her loyalty to Aurora and the resurgence of her ancient, destructive nature, Aurora must step into her role as queen more fully than ever before. Alongside her trusted companion, Prince Phillip (Harris Dickinson), she embarks on a dangerous journey to seek out the ancient magic that could counteract the Heart of the Fae before Seraphina’s reign of darkness can engulf the entire realm.

In the process, Aurora uncovers hidden truths about her lineage that challenge everything she knew about her origins and her connection to the magic of the Moors. As the stakes grow higher, Aurora must confront her destiny—one that forces her to question the true nature of good and evil.

Meanwhile, Maleficent struggles with her inner turmoil. Her bond with Aurora has helped her tame the darker aspects of herself, but the allure of the Dark Fae’s power pulls at her. Will she succumb to her old ways, or will she rise above the darkness to protect her newfound family?