A sequel to Cruella is in development at Disney. Cruella opened in theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access service to audiences on Memorial Day weekend. The film came in number 2 at the box office behind Paramount's A Quiet Place: Part II, yet still opened to strong numbers given the Covid-19 pandemic's effects on the box office, and it appeared critics and audiences responded warmly to the film.
Leading up to the film's release, various individuals involved with Cruella discussed possibilities of a sequel. Glenn Close, who played Cruella De Vil in the 1996 live-action adaptation of 101 Dalmatians and is credited as an executive producer on Cruella, pitched a Godfather Part II-style sequel with herself and Emma Stone. Director Craig Gillespie recently spoke about his thoughts on a sequel and interest in returning. Given all the discussion, it appeared those involved always had a sequel on the mind, but the question was if the film could be profitable enough to justify a sequel.
It appears Disney is satisfied with Cruella's box-office and critical reception and so they are in development on a sequel. According to THR, director Craig Gillespie and writer Tony McNamara are reportedly expected to return to the sequel. A Disney spokesperson released a statement highlighting how well Cruella had done for the studio and how excited they are to move forward with the character. The statement reads:
We are very pleased with Cruella’s box office success, in conjunction with its strong Disney+ Premier Access performance to date...The film has been incredibly well received by audiences around the world, with a 97% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes in addition to A’s in every demographic from CinemaScore on opening weekend, ranking it among the most popular of our live-action reimaginings. We look forward to a long run as audiences continue to enjoy this fantastic film.
Like many of the other Disney live-action remakes of their animated classics, the hope is to turn these properties into long-running franchises similar to Marvel or Star Wars. Both Alice in Wonderland and Maleficent got sequels in the form of Alice Through the Looking Glass and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, respectively. Yet, both underperformed at the box office and were not popular with critics. Currently, Disney has announced a sequel/prequel hybrid to 2019's The Lion King directed by Academy Award-winner, Barry Jenkins, as well as a sequel to 2019's Aladdin.
Given that Cruella ends with the traditional setup of 101 Dalmatians, the filmmakers could explore a more straightforward remake of the classic story now that the origin story is out of the way. They could also provide the story from Cruella's point of view. The filmmakers also can show Cruella dealing with the ever-evolving world of fashion, taking the character out of the 1970s London punk scene and into the fashion of the 1980s. There are plenty of possibilities for the filmmakers and stars to explore, and now they can have free rein to take the property in a new direction.
Source: THR