A live-action movie based on Cruella de Vil, the cold-blooded and sinister villainess from Disney‘s animated classic “101 Dalmations”, has been in development since 2013.
Now, the studio is fast-tracking the project because according to The Hollywood Reporter, “The Amazing Spider-Man” star Emma Stone is in early negotiations to play the iconic Disney villainess.
This won’t be the first time that Disney is releasing a spin-off film based on one of its iconic villains.
Earlier in 2014, the studio released “Maleficent“, a new take on the villainess from “Sleeping Beauty”. Angelina Jolie starred in it as the titular character and she is portrayed as the misunderstood antagonist. At the time, the film earned USD758 million globally.
The success of “Maleficent” was followed by this year’s live-action “Cinderella” movie, which earned USD542 million worldwide.
The upcoming live-action “Cruella” movie is expected to a big hit if Stone is confirmed to star as the titular character.
First appeared in Dodie Smith’s 1956 novel “The Hundred and One Dalmatians”, Cruella de Vil became an iconic villainess after the release of the Disney animated movie in 1961. The fictional fur-fetishist also briefly appeared in Smith’s lesser-known science fiction sequel book, “The Starlight Barking”.
De Vil was later brought to life by Glenn Close in 1996’s live-action version of “101 Dalmatians” and its 2000 sequel, “102 Dalmatians”. She was also portrayed by Victoria Smurfit and Milli Wilkinson in ABC’s “Once Upon a Time“, as well as by Wendy Raquel Robinson in Disney Channel’s “Descendants”.
“Fifty Shades of Grey” writer Kelly Marcel, who is perhaps best known for tackling “Saving Mr. Banks”, is currently working on the script with HBO’s “Togetherness” co-creator Steve Zissis. An earlier version of the project, which had Andrew Gunn on board to produce, was done by “The Devil Wears Prada” screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna.
No director is attached to helm it yet, but Kristin Burr and Jessica Virtue are overseeing the project for the studio. Shooting on the film is expected to begin later this year.
It is unclear when the spin-off film based on de Vil will be released, but a plethora of live-action fairy tales are also being developed by Disney.
The full movie slate is as follows:
- The Jungle Book – 15th April 2016
- Alice: Through the Looking Glass – 27th May 2016
- Pete’s Dragon – 12th August 2016
- Beauty and the Beast – 17th March 2017
- Dumbo (Director: Tim Burton)
- Winnie the Pooh (Writer: Alex Perry)
- Mulan (Writer: Elizabeth Martin and Lauren Hynek)
- Sword in the Stone (Writer: Brian Cogman)
- Pinocchio (Writer: Peter Hedges)
- Tinkerbell
- Genie
- Fantasia – Night On Bald Mountain
- Prince Charming
- Maleficent 2
Disney also dated a number of animated films and live-action movies through 2019:
- Untitled live action fairy tale – 22nd December 2017
- Untitled live action fairy tale – 2nd November 2018
- Untitled live action fairy tale – 29th March 2019
- Untitled live action fairy tale – 8th November 2019
What do you think about this? Do you think Stone is able to pull off the menacing character? Share your thoughts in the comments box below.
Sources: THR, Hypable / Image sources: Empire Online, Twitter, YouTube.
