@Disney, Cruella
Emma Stone has given a long-awaited update about the progress of Disney’s planned Cruella sequel, Cruella 2. Speaking with Variety, the Oscar-winning actress shared that the follow-up is likely to begin shooting soon.
Stone also noted that the script for the planned sequel is still “a work in progress.” Despite being unable to give a more precise timeline, she also revealed that she’s looking forward to revisiting the role.
The actress, who’s currently nominated for two Golden Globes, for her performances in Poor Things and The Curse, shared about Cruella 2: “Hopefully, hopefully sooner rather than later. There’s a work in progress kind of thing going on [with the script]. We’ll see.”
The follow-up was officially announced to be in development shortly after to the Academy Award-winning comedy-drama was released in 2021. However, no further details about the sequel’s production have since been shared until now.
Cruella serves as an origin story for the titular villain from 101 Dalmatians. The live-action film chronicles her transformation into the famous fashion designer with a fondness for fur. Following the example set by Disney’s fellow villain origin story, 2014’s Maleficent, Cruella sought to reinvent the classic eponymous antagonist. The origin story presented Cruella as more sympathetic than her previous depictions in both animation and live-action movies.
Cruella is also noteworthy because it was the first major red-carpet release after the beginning of COVID-19. As a result, the film’s box office returns were only a fraction of what Disney was used to seeing from their major pre-pandemic releases.
The movie’s somewhat disappointing box office total was hampered by audiences being either hesitant or unable to return to theaters only a year-and-a-half into the pandemic. Cruella‘s box office total was further impacted by the studio’s decision to also launch a simultaneous streaming release via Disney+’s Premier Access feature.
The film premiered in theaters and on Disney+ on May 28, 2021. Upon its release, it grossed $233.5 million at the worldwide box office and another $21 million in Disney+ Premier Access rentals. However, the movie’s less-than-anticipated returns didn’t deter Disney from immediately announcing its plan to make a follow-up.
Cruella features a mid-credits scene that hints at a sequel that potentially heading directly into the story of 101 Dalmations. But a direct follow-up to Cruella may take away from Cruella de Vil becoming the complete villain she became in 101 Dalmations. So as Stone suggested, Disney is taking its time developing the story for Cruella 2, to make sure it doesn’t contradict the famed family film.
Cruella was directed by I, Tonya helmer-producer Craig Gillespie. The Disney comedy-drama written by Dana Fox and Tony McNamara. Besides Stone, it also starred Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Mark Strong, John McCrea and Emily Beecham.
The movie was executive produced by Stone and Glenn Close. The latter played the first live-action version of Cruella in the 1996 adventure comedy, 101 Dalmatians, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe.
Stone can currently be seen alongside Mark Ruffalo and Willem Dafoe in Poor Things, a black comedy fantasy film penned by McNamara and helmed by Yorgos Lanthimos. The BAFTA Award-winning actress is also starring in The Curse, a satirical comedy series that’s airing on Showtime. The thriller also stars Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie.
The SAG Award-winning performer is also set to reunite with Lanthimos for Kinds of Kindness, an upcoming anthology movie. The project will also star Jesse Plemons, Dafoe and Margaret Qualley.