The L.A. Times is reporting that tabloid queen Angelina Jolie could soon be starring as Disney’s most diabolical queen. Jolie is rumoured to be interested in stepping into the big black boots of Maleficent, the nasty green-skinned royal who does her best to kill off Sleeping Beauty. The new take on the tale, titled after Maleficent herself, is currently in development.

With Alice in Wonderland setting box offices ablaze, the Times says Disney is actively putting together skewed live-action takes on some of their other properties. Maleficent is the leading contender to be first out the gate, if only because the idea has been floating around for so long.

It was reported just last week that Alice screenwriter Linda Woolverton is taking a crack at the script while Alice director Tim Burton is potentially interested in directing or producing. The story is a reworking of Sleeping Beauty, told from the perspective of Maleficent, the villain of the original picture.

Nothing has been signed or confirmed, but Brad Pitt’s famous lady-friend is actively looking for her next role now that she’s wrapped the thriller The Tourist. That film, which also stars Johnny Depp, is scheduled for a February 2011 release. Before then, audiences can catch Jolie in the action thriller Salt, this July.