James R | On 15, Aug 2021

Emma Stone will return for a Cruella sequel, having closed a deal with Disney for a second film.

The latest in the company’s live-action reworkings of its own animated back catalogue, Cruella is set in 1970s London amid the punk rock revolution. It follows a young grifter named Estella, a clever and creative girl determined to make a name for herself in fashion – eventually catching the eye of the Baroness von Hellman (Emma Thompson) and setting in motion events that bring Estella to embrace her wicked, “Cruella” side.

Directed by Craig Gillespie (I Tonya) from a screenplay by Dana Fox and Tony McNamara, the film premiered on 28th May in cinemas – and, on the same day, streamed on Disney+, subject to an additional Premier Access fee of £19.99. Disney said it was “very pleased” with the performance, both theatrically and online.

Since then, however, Disney has found itself in a legal battle over its model for releasing films on Disney+ and in cinemas, with Scarlett Johansson suing the corporation over the release of Black Widow. Stone’s deal, then, both comes as a positive step forwards for Disney and for talent navigating the shifting media landscaping and what it means for rights and revenue share agreements.

Deadline reports that the deal “mutually benefits both sides”. Patrick Whitesell, the executive chairman of Endeavor, of whom Stone is a client, told the site: “While the media landscape has been disrupted in a meaningful way for all distributors, their creative partners cannot be left on the sidelines to carry a disproportionate amount of the downside without the potential for upside. This agreement demonstrates that there can be an equitable path forward that protects artists and aligns studios’ interests with talent. We are proud to work alongside Emma and Disney, and appreciate the studio’s willingness to recognise her contributions as a creative partner. We are hopeful that this will open the door for more members of the creative community to participate in the success of new platforms.”

Director Craig Gillespie and screenwriter Tony McNamara are both expected to return for the sequel.

 

Cruella sequel in the works at Disney

5th June 2021

A sequel to Cruella is in the works at Disney.

The latest in the company’s live-action reworkings of its own animated back catalogue, the film is less a 101 Dalmatians prequel and more a reworking of its villain’s early years, with Emma Stone playing Cruella de Vil. Set in 1970s London amid the punk rock revolution, it follows a young grifter named Estella, a clever and creative girl determined to make a name for herself in fashion – eventually catching the eye of the Baroness von Hellman (Emma Thompson) and setting in motion events that bring Estella to embrace her wicked, “Cruella” side.

Directed by Craig Gillespie (I Tonya) from a screenplay by Dana Fox and Tony McNamara, the film premiered on 28th May in cinemas – and, on the same day, streamed on Disney+, subject to an additional Premier Access fee of £19.99. While Disney hasn’t released any audience data publicly, it’s obviously pleased with the film’s performance after a week on release. In the UK, the film ranked third in the UK box office charts, taking £1.45 million.

As for the film’s online performance, a Disney spokesperson said in a statement: “We are very pleased with Cruella’s box office success, in conjunction with its strong Disney+ Premier Access performance to date. The film has been incredibly well received by audiences around the world, with a 97 per cent 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.”

Now, Disney is reportedly in early development on a follow-up, with director Craig Gillespie and screenwriter Tony McNamara both expected to return. You can read our review of the film here.

Add to Watchlist