According to Variety, Academy Award-winning actress Emma Thompson (Howards End) is entereds talks to star in Walt Disney Pictures‘ forthcoming live-action Cruella which centers on one of the most iconic Disney villains from the 101 Dalmatians film franchise. Thompson would be joining Oscar winner Emma Stone (La La Land), who is set to portray the titular fur-obsessed antagonist.
She will next be seen in the upcoming Men in Black: International; the comedy movie Late Night opposite Mindy Kaling, the romantic comedy Last Christmas.
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The Cruella De Vil movie, titled Cruella, will explore the villainess who originated in Dodie Smith’s 1956 book, “The Hundred and One Dalmatians.” The role was voiced by Betty Lou Gerson in Disney’s 1961 animated adaptation and played by Glenn Close in the 1996 live-action take (as well as in that film’s 2000 sequel, 102 Dalmatians). Smith also briefly revisited the character in her lesser-known science fiction sequel book, “The Starlight Barking.”
The long in development film will be directed by I, Tonya filmmaker Craig Gillespie (The Finest Hours, Million Dollar Arm).
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First scripted by The Devil Wears Prada scribe Aline Brosh McKenna, the Cruella De Vil movie’s most recent version hails from Dana Fox, who is co-writing the script along with Tony McNamara.
Cruella is set for release on December 23, 2020.
