Why be a Disney princess when you can play a Disney villain? Emma Stone is the latest star join a live action reboot of a much-loved tale: she's been confirmed to play the lead in Cruella, which promises to tell the origins story of 101 Dalmations' iconic, pup-hating criminal mastermind. Here's what we know so far...
Haven't we already had a live action 101 Dalmations? What's Cruella all about?
Glenn Close played the fur-swathed villainess back in 1996 (you probably owned it on VHS), but Cruella will tell the story of Ms. De Vil's younger years. Naturally, the first point of comparison is Maleficent: will Disney attempt to redeem the scourge of the dalmations in this origin story, or just make her meaner (and camper) than ever? Little is known so far, but here's hoping that Emma looks good in monochrome...
When will it arrive in cinemas?
Disney has finally confirmed a release date for Cruella: it will arrive just in time for Christmas on 22nd December 2017.
Who else is on board?
As yet... no one. Aside from Stone in the lead role, Disney are keeping further casting details shrouded in secrecy. Variety reports, however, that Alex Timbers is in negotiations to direct the project. Best known for his theatre work on Broadway, Timbers co-created Amazon's Mozart In The Jungle and is currently working on the stage adaptation of Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge!
Does that mean it'll be a musical?
We can't say for sure yet, as so far Disney's live action reboots haven't followed any pattern on this front: this year's Beauty and the Beast will feature all the songs from the original animation, while Maleficent (another tale which aimed to give an origin story to one of Disney's villains) was song-free. Given the rumoured director's musical pedigree and Emma's spellbinding turn in La La Land, we're keeping our fingers firmly crossed.
Is there a trailer?
Not yet, though we can surely expect a slew of teaser clips to drop later in the year - and we'll let you know as soon as the first arrives...
Which other Disney films are getting the live action treatment?
First up is the much-anticipated Beauty and the Beast, starring Emma Watson and Downton’s Dan Stevens, which arrives in cinemas on March 17th. A live-action Mulan is pencilled in for November 2nd 2018, with Emily Blunt’s Mary Poppins Returns floating into cinemas on Christmas Day of the same year. Re-booted versions of The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Snow White and Aladdin (due to be directed, bizarrely, by Guy Ritchie) are also on Disney’s slate.
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