Cruella (film)

*This article features media that has yet to be released.*

### **Produced by**

Kristin Burr
Andrew Gunn
Marc Platt

### **Screenplay by**

Aline Brosh McKenna
Jez Butterworth
Dana Fox
Kelly Marcel
Tony McNamara
Steve Zissis

### **Based on**

Characters from:
Disney's *One Hundred and One Dalmatians*
by Bill Peet
*The Hundred and One Dalmatians*
by Dodie Smith

### **Starring**

Emma Stone
Emma Thompson
Joel Fry
Paul Walter Hauser
Mark Strong

### **Production company**

Walt Disney Pictures
Gunn Films
Marc Platt Productions

### **Language**

English

***Cruella*** is an upcoming American crime comedy film based on the character Cruella de Vil, introduced in Dodie Smith's 1956 novel *The Hundred and One Dalmatians* and Walt Disney's 1961 animated film *One Hundred and One Dalmatians*. The film is directed by Craig Gillespie, from a screenplay written by Aline Brosh McKenna, Jez Butterworth, Dana Fox, Kelly Marcel, Tony McNamara, and Steve Zissis. It stars Emma Stone as the titular character, with Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser, and Mark Strong in supporting roles. Glenn Close, who played the titular character in the 1996 live-action remake and its sequel, to which the film is a prequel, serves as an executive producer. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures scheduled to release *Cruella* on May 28, 2021.

## Premise

In 1970s London, young fashion designer Estella de Vil becomes obsessed with dogs' skins, especially Dalmatians, until she eventually becomes a ruthless and terrifying legend known as Cruella.

## Cast

* Emma Stone as Estella "Cruella" de Vil: A woman obsessed with furs, especially dalmatians, who will go on to become a notorious criminal.
* Emma Thompson as the Baroness
* Joel Fry as Jasper
* Paul Walter Hauser as Horace
* Mark Strong as Boris
* Emily Beecham as Anita
* Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Tabitha
* Jamie Demetriou as Gerald

## Production

### Development

A live-action Cruella de Vil film was announced in 2011. Andrew Gunn was hired to produce the film, with Glenn Close (who previously played the titular character in the 1996 live-action adaptation and its sequel) serving as executive producer and Kelly Marcel revised 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 film. 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, replacing Timbers.

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, Emily Beecham and Kirby Howell-Baptiste were cast as Boris, Anita and Tabitha, respectively. Filming wrapped in November 2019.

## Release

*Cruella* is scheduled to be theatrically released on May 28, 2021. The film was originally scheduled to be released on December 23, 2020, but it was delayed as filming began.