Disney gave us one of the most talked-about movies of 2021 with Cruella, and there’s more where it came from. The origin story of the 101 Dalmatians villainess is officially getting a sequel, with Emma Stone returning to the titular role.
Cruella premiered back in May to positive reviews but suffered at the box office due to the simultaneous release on Disney+. Many questioned Stone’s return after Scarlett Johansson’s lawsuit against Disney over the company’s decision to release Black Widow through the same simultaneous model. Stone didn’t go down the same road, and executive chairman of her agency Endeavor, Patrick Whitesell, said this agreement demonstrates that it’s possible for studios and talent to find the common ground.
“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,” said Whitesell in a statement.
In addition to Stone, Cruella also starred Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser, Emily Beecham, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, and Mark Strong. It has grossed over $226 million worldwide, and it’s been reported that it was watched by 686,000 American households in its debut weekend on Disney+.
