Cruella star Emma Stone is set to reprise her role as Cruella de Vil for Disney's planned sequel.
According to Deadline, Stone has officially inked a deal to star in the sequel to Cruella. The outlet explains that Stone's deal with Disney to star in Cruella 2 "mutually benefits both sides especially at a time when Disney is still assessing the dynamic window model on its event titles."
Deadline describes Stone signing on for Cruella 2 as a "very good sign" for Disney, which is no doubt eager to secure talent amid the ongoing conversations surrounding its dual theatrical/Disney+ Premier Access release model.
As a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Cruella was one of many Disney films to simultaneously premiere in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access. A similar strategy was used for the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Black Widow. This is of note, as Black Widow star Scarlett Johansson -- who was evidently promised an exclusive theatrical premiere -- has actually sued Disney as a result.
In the wake of Johansson's lawsuit, there has been much speculation regarding whether or not other movie stars potentially dissatisfied with Disney's new release model would pursue legal action against the company as well. As of last month, Stone herself was reportedly "weighing her options" on the matter. To date, however, no other actors have joined the legal fray -- and given Stone's new deal, it seems rather unlikely that she will.
"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," said Patrick Whitesell, the Executive Chairman of Endeavor, the agency that represents Stone. "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 recognize 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."
Directed by Craig Gillespie, Cruella premiered in theaters and on Disney+ earlier this year on May 28. Starring Stone in the title role, the film gives an origin story to Cruella de Vil, the main antagonist of the classic 1961 Disney animated film One Hundred and One Dalmatians. Prior to Stone taking on the role, Cruella de Vil was previously portrayed in live-action by Glenn Close in 1996's 101 Dalmatians and in 2000's 102 Dalmatians.
To date, Cruella has grossed $226.1 million at the worldwide box office. While Disney did not officially disclose the film's streaming numbers, Samba TV reported that Cruella also brought in approximately $21 million in Disney+ Premier Access rentals over Memorial Day weekend. The 101 Dalmatians spinoff has also been mostly well-received by fans and critics alike, currently holding a 74 percent approval rating and a 97 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
In early June, about one week after Cruella's premiere, it was reported that Disney was developing a sequel, with Gillespie and screenwriter Tony McNamara expected to return.
Source: Deadline