Disney releases the first trailer for the long-awaited Cruella, a live-action reimagining of the 101 Dalmatians villain's origins. With this movie, the Mouse House is continuing forward with its trend of revisiting their beloved past films and revising them with a more modern spin. Cruella has been in the works for many years now, with Emma Stone boarding the project as Ms. de Vil in 2016. The film was once scheduled for release in 2020, but it was later bumped to May 2021. As a result, it has been about a year and a half since audiences got their first look at Stone as Cruella.
Directed by Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya), Cruella takes place in 1970s London and follows its titular character when she is simply an aspiring fashion designer named Estella. Much like 2014's Maleficent, this film aims to show the origins of one of Disney's most well-known villains. Stone is joined by the likes of Emma Thompson, Mark Strong, Joel Fry, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Emily Beecham, and Paul Walter Hauser. Yesterday, the first poster for Cruella was unveiled and teased the arrival of the first trailer.
Now, audience's first proper look at Cruella has arrived. Disney released the trailer today, showcasing Stone's emerging villainess. Additionally, the clip reaffirms it is sticking to its May 28 release date - for now. Check it out down below.
Many have speculated Cruella could follow fellow live-action remake Mulan and head to Disney+, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to put the viability of movie theaters into question. However, this trailer makes no mention of a streaming release. This could very well change, but for the time being, it looks like Disney is plunging forward with a theatrical run. With Stone in the leading role, as well as Thompson playing the Baroness, there's enough star power here to warrant interest among audiences. That's also on top of the brand association: For those who love Cruella de Vil, this is a must-watch.
Though the Cruella trailer doesn't give away much plot-wise, it does give a good impression of what its main character is like. Viewers get a glimpse of the pre-black and white hair Estella sports as she enters fashion house Liberty, though it isn't quite clear what leads her to make that drastic appearance change later on. The darker tone (which some have already compared to DC's Joker) lends itself well to the villain origin story that takes up the bulk of Cruella, and Stone so far feels like a good fit for the part. There are bound to be comparisons between her and 101 Dalmatians' Glenn Close, who serves as an executive producer, but Stone seems promising. Audiences will get to see her in all her devilish glory in just a few months.
Source: Walt Disney Studios
