Only recently we heard that Emma Stone was considering a lawsuit of her own against Disney. Even if true, it may have been put to rest as Stone officially locks down a deal for a Cruella sequel.
Being pushed from a 2020 release, Cruella finally debuted in May 2021 — both, in theatres and on Disney+ on the same day. Now with Scarlett Johansson’s recent lawsuit, it is coming to light that this hybrid condition was rather unfair to the talent. Stone herself was said to be taking action in regards to Cruella’s simultaneous release on Disney+.
However, her final decision not to and subsequently sign a sequel deal shows that Disney has taken steps to smooth things over. Whatever release route Cruella 2 goes with (theatrical, streaming or hybrid), both parties will have ensured a beneficial deal.
Perhaps Disney is learning from its folly and will continue to do the same for future projects.
If we had to read numbers, then a Cruella sequel makes sense. Despite the current dynamics of the box office, the film made over 200 million USD worldwide on the heels of its 100 million USD budget. Disney’s Premier Access sales have not been revealed, but Nielsen’s estimates are around 25 million USD made for the streamer.
Not to forget, it received a fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, an “A” on CinemaScore and the likelihood of award nominations.
The sequel was already put into motion before Stone’s confirmation and had roped in director Craig Gillespie and writer Tony McNamara, both from the first film.
For Disney, this may be a long game of establishing Cruella as an icon to bank on for future, more stable box office success.
About Cruella
Cruella is a 2021 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 live-action adaptation stars Academy Award-winning actress Emma Stone as Cruella, with Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser, Emily Beecham, and Mark Strong in supporting roles. A sequel is in development at Disney.
Set amidst 1970s London during the punk rock revolution, Estella (Stone) moves to the bustling city with dreams of establishing herself as a fashion force. However, when she catches the eye of celebrated designer Baroness von Hellman, Estella unleashes her fiery inner persona to get ahead. With her thief friends by her side, Estella’s ambitions will take a sinister turn when she gets obsessed with Dalmatian furs and becomes the antagonistic villain of the original Disney movie.
In August 2021, it has been confirmed that Emma Stone will be returning for a sequel with Craig Gillespie and Tony McNamara, the first film’s director and writer respectively. No other cast, release date or plot details have been revealed.
Source: Deadline
No Comments on It’s Official! Emma Stone Will Return For Cruella 2