Kristin Chenoweth to play Maleficent in Disney Channel's 'Descendants'

LOS ANGELES, May 1 (UPI) -- We've been hearing about Angelina Jolie's live-action interpretation of classic Disney baddie Maleficent for more than a year now. But there's another Maleficent in town.

Kristen Chenoweth, of Broadway and Wicked fame, has just been tapped to play the horned villainess in a Disney Channel Original Movie by High School Musical director and choreographer Kenny Ortega.

Descendants will focus on the sons and daughters of classic Disney villains -- the sons of Jafar and Cruella de Vil, for example -- who attend prep school with the children of more benevolent heroes.

Chenoweth stars opposite Dove Cameron, who plays her teenage daughter Mal.

Filming begins in May.