Maleficent Joins Sofia the First Holiday Special

Maleficent will make her debut in the Sofia the First franchise in the animated series’ holiday special, Holiday at Charmswell, scheduled to premiere November 26 on Disney Jr. and Disney. A released trailer previews the Sleeping Beauty villain at a Wassailia celebration with Princess Sofia and Princess Aurora, showing her reacting to an apology for not being invited.

The special brings Maleficent to Charmswell, where Sofia and Aurora encounter her during the festive gathering. In the preview, Miss Nettle, a former villain who now runs Sofia’s school, apologizes for leaving Maleficent off the invitation list. Maleficent appears surprised by the gesture and joins the celebration. The footage offers a glimpse of the episode’s portrayal but does not establish how her character develops across the full story.

Craig Gerber, creator and executive producer of Sofia the First: Royal Magic, said the episode uses the party snub to explore what may underlie Maleficent’s villainous behavior. He said bringing a classic Disney villain into Sofia’s world allowed the team to connect her story with Miss Nettle, who has moved on from her past as a villain.

The special is part of Sofia the First:...