With theater activities resuming, we are lucky enough to experience the cinematic experience of Cruella. As the title suggests, it serves as a prequel to the infamous 101 and 102 Dalmatians movies, centering around the journey of Estella Miller from an aspiring fashion designer to becoming a notorious criminal we know from the Dalmatians universe.
However, The Hollywood Reporter recently and exclusively revealed that Disney isn't waiting long to announce its plan to develop a Cruella 2. With that being said, here is everything we know about the first Cruella and the upcoming sequel.
10 Yes, It Is Happening & It's Been Confirmed
No, it's not a rumor anymore. As mentioned above, Disney has decided to develop Cruella 2, due to the first movie's massive success in both box office and critical acclaim.
"The film has been incredibly well received by audiences around the world, with a 97 percnet Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes in addition to A’s in every demographic from CinemaScore on opening weekend, ranking it among the most popular of our live-action reimaginings. We look forward to a long run as audiences continue to enjoy this fantastic film," a spokesperson told THR.
9 Craig Gillespie & Tony McNamara Are Set To Return
In addition to that, Craig Gillespie is set to return to the director seat with Tony McNamara penning the script. In the first movie, the latter was aided by Dana Fox from Ben and Kate, The Wedding Date, and What Happens in Vegas.
"I feel like we’ve only just met her. I’d love to now see the full-blown Cruella, fully loaded. She’s managed to get the support system around her and she can really expand on her brand," the director sat down with Collider to discuss the potential sequel.
8 Before Hiring Gillespie, Disney Had Another Director In Mind
As noted by Deadline, Broadway director Alex Timbers was initially set to direct Cruella, with Marc Platt serving as the producer. However, he left the project due to conflicting schedules and was replaced by Gillespie instead. At that time, Timber was busy bringing Beetlejuice to Broadway, as well as realizing the stage version of Moulin Rouge.
7 It Will Likely Serve As Both Sequel & Prequel
Interestingly, Emma Stone and Emma Thompson, the actress of Estella and Baroness respectively, are in for a Godfather-esque sequel of Cruella. Speaking to Rotten Tomatoes back in March, the actresses intended the sequel to be both a sequel and prequel to the first movie. In fact, Glenn Close, the actress of Estella from the original live-action Dalmatians movies, is also in mind for a part in the sequel!
6 The First Movie Was Critically Acclaimed
As mentioned above, Cruella was met with positive reactions from fans and critics alike. Since theaters are back and open in several countries, Cruella has been one of the best titles to watch so far. On Rotten Tomatoes, Cruella holds a 74 out of 100 scores based on 345 reviews. CinemaScore crowned Cruella a fantastic "A" score from an A+ to F scale.
5 'Cruella' Grossed Over $132 Million
Cruella has also been a commercial success so far, meaning that Cruella 2 will likely follow the same success trajectory. Cruella has garnered a worldwide gross total of $132 million, with $20.57 million of the total earned through the Disney+ streaming service alone. Everything about Cruella, from its costumes to its chaotic nature, is top-notch, making us more excited about the upcoming sequel.
4 'Cruella' Wasn't The First Time Emma Stone Embraced Her British Accent
Cruella is set during the punk rock movement in London back in the 1970s. It requires Emma Stone, who speaks regularly in an American accent, to embrace a London accent on set while playing the truly unhinged maniac dog killer. It wasn't the first time Stone encapsulates the accent in her speech, though. Back in 2018, she was the only American among an all-British cast of historical comedy-drama The Favorite.
3 Glenn Close Had Given Emma Stone Her Stamp Of Approval
Glenn Close portrayed Stone's character in 101 and 102 Dalmatians back in 1996 and 2000, respectively. Speaking to US Weekly, the 72-year-old seven-time Oscar-nominated actress gave Stone her stamp of approval. She even confessed that she's not expecting anyone to ask for her advice about playing the villainous anti-hero.
2 Disney's Smoking Ban Somewhat Slowed Down The Movie's Production
Since 2007, Disney has banned on-screen smoking sequences. That means, we've lost one iconic item from the 101 Dalmatians villain ensemble. With that said, we won't likely get a visual of it on the upcoming Cruella 2.
"It was difficult to not have that cigarette holder," Stone said. "I was so excited to have that green plume of smoke in there, but it was not possible."
1 The Sequel Won't Likely Be Released Until 2023
Unfortunately, details regarding the release date for Cruella 2 remain scarce at this point. Even if the movie is being actively developed in the coming months, it still is going to take a while for Disney to mount the production and recall the main cast. 2023 or 2024 can be the earliest years to expect Cruella 2, given the years' gap between 101 and 102 Dalmatians.