Cruella

***Cruella*** is a 2021 American crime comedy-drama film directed by Craig Gillespie with a screenplay by Dana Fox and Tony McNamara, from a story by Aline Brosh McKenna, Kelly Marcel, and Steve Zissis. The film is based on the character Cruella de Vil, introduced in Dodie Smith's 1956 novel *The Hundred and One Dalmatians* and more precisely, on the version from the Disney's 1961 animated film *One Hundred and One Dalmatians*. It is the third live-action film in the *101 Dalmatians* franchise. Emma Stone stars as the title character, with Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser, Emily Beecham, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, and Mark Strong in supporting roles.

Walt Disney Pictures announced the film's development in 2013, with Andrew Gunn as producer. Stone was cast in 2016 and also serves as an executive producer on the film alongside Glenn Close, who previously portrayed Cruella in the previous live-action adaptations, *101 Dalmatians* (1996) and *102 Dalmatians* (2000). Principal photography took place between August and November 2019 in England.

*Cruella* premiered in Los Angeles on May 18, 2021, the first major red carpet event since the COVID-19 pandemic began. It is scheduled to be released theatrically and simultaneously available on Disney+ with Premier Access on May 28, 2021, in the United States.

## **Premise**

Set in the 1970s in London during the punk rock movement, the film follows Estella, an aspiring fashion designer, and explores the path that will lead her to become a notorious criminal known as **Cruella de Vil**.

## **Cast**

* Emma Stone as Estella "Cruella" de Vil: An ambitious drifter and aspiring fashion designer, who will go on to become a notorious and dangerous criminal obsessed with Dalmatian furs.
	+ Tipper Seifert-Cleveland as young Estella de Vil

* Emma Thompson as Baroness von Hellman: The head of a prestigious fashion house and a renowned haute fashion legend, who is Estella's boss and her eventual rival, who plays a role in Estella's transformation.

* Joel Fry as Jasper Badun: A thief hired by Estella to help her in her crimes and Horace's brother. To play Jasper, Fry didn't look back at the character's depiction in the original animated film or the 1996 live-action remake, only copying his physical mannerisms.

* Paul Walter Hauser as Horace Badun: A thief hired by Estella to help her in her crimes and Jasper's brother. Hauser's inspiration to play Horace was Bob Hoskins' performance as Mr. Smee in *Hook*.

* Emily Beecham as Catherine Miller: Estella's mother, an impoverished laundrywoman.

* Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Anita Darling: Estella's childhood friend, who is working as a journalist.

* Mark Strong as John: The Baroness' valet whose "agenda is not as plain as his name".

* Jon McCrea as Artie: A member of Cruella's entourage. He is the first openly gay character in a live-action Disney film.

### **Development**

A live-action Cruella de Vil film, based upon the character in Disney's *101 Dalmatians* franchise, was announced in 2013. Andrew Gunn was hired to produce the film, with Glenn Close (who previously played the character in the previous 1996 live-action adaptation *101 Dalmatians* and its sequel *102 Dalmatians*) serving as executive producer and Kelly Marcel revising the script originally written by Aline Brosh McKenna. On January 6, 2016, Emma Stone was cast in the titular role of Cruella de Vil. In August 2016, Jez Butterworth was hired to rewrite the previous draft of the screenplay. In November 2016, it was reported that Disney had hired Alex Timbers to direct the live-action adaptation, with Marc Platt joining the film as a producer. However, in December 2018, it was revealed that Timbers had left the film due to scheduling conflicts and Craig Gillespie would instead direct the film.

In May 2019, Emma Thompson joined the cast as the Baroness, described as "an antagonist to Cruella who's thought to be pivotal in her transformation to the villain we know today".  Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Julianne Moore, and Demi Moore were also in consideration for the role, while Dev Patel was considered for the role of Roger Dearly. The same month, Tony McNamara and Dana Fox were hired to write the recent version of the screenplay. Joel Fry and Paul Walter Hauser were added in the following months as Jasper and Horace.

### **Filming**

In August 2019, during the D23 Expo, it was revealed that principal photography for *Cruella* had already begun. The first official image from the film featuring Stone as Cruella de Vil with three adult dalmatians on a leash, Hauser as Horace and Fry as Jasper was also unveiled during the event. In September 2019, Mark Strong,

## **Music**

**Main article:** Cruella (soundtrack)

On March 31, 2021, it was announced that Nicholas Britell was hired to compose the film's score. The score album was released on May 21, 2021 by Walt Disney Records.

A separate soundtrack album for the film was released on the same day. Both albums feature "Call Me Cruella", an original song performed by Florence and the Machine, which will appear in the end credits of the film. The soundtrack album also includes songs, such as Nina Simone's "Feeling Good", Supertramp's "Bloody Well Right", Queen's "Stone Cold Crazy", Blondie's "One Way or Another", the Doors's "Five to One", Electric Light Orchestra's "Livin' Thing", and the Clash's "Should I Stay or Should I Go".

## **Marketing**

A prequel novel titled *Cruella: Hello, Cruel Heart* was published by Disney Publishing Worldwide on April 6, 2021. Written by Maureen Johnson, the novel is set before the event of the movie, in 1967. It followed sixteen-year-old Estella and her encounter with Magda and Richard Moresby-Plum, two wealthy siblings who introduced her to the world of the rich and famous. A tie-in novelization of the film by Elizabeth Rudnick was published by Disney on April 13, 2021. A book titled *Cruella's Sketchbook* was also released on the same day. A manga adaptation of the movie by Hachi Ishie, titled *Cruella: Black, White and Red* is scheduled to be released by Viz Media on August 3, 2021.

## Sequel

Main article: Cruella 2
In May 2021, both Stone and Thompson stated that they would like to do a second *Cruella* film in the style of *The Godfather Part II*, serving as both a sequel and prequel. On June 4, 2021, Disney announced that a sequel is officially in the early stages of development, with Gillespie and McNamara expected to return as director and writer, respectively.

### **Theatrical and streaming**

*Cruella* was originally scheduled to be theatrically released on December 23, 2020, but it was delayed to May 28, 2021 as filming began. The film received a PG-13 rating from the Motion Picture Association, "for some violence and thematic elements," making it the second live-action remake/spin-off of a Disney animated film to receive the rating, following *Mulan*. On March 23, 2021, it was announced that the film will be released simultaneously on Disney+ with Premier Access in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film premiered at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on May 18, 2021, the first major red carpet premiere since the pandemic began.

Tickets for the theatrical screenings went on sale on May 14, 2021, and it was announced that the film will also be screened in Dolby Cinema in select territories. It was first screened for critics the same day.

1. ↑ Emma Stone and Emma Thompson are in for a Godfather II style Cruella sequel.
2. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2021-06-05). 'Cruella' Sequel In Early Development; Director Craig Gillespie & Writer Tony McNamara Expected To Return.