Well, we did not see this coming. Disney has revealed a new spin-off movie based on its 1961 animated classic (and its subsequent 1996 live-action remake) One Hundred and One Dalmatians, but this time around, starring not the spotted dogs, but the villainess Cruella de Vil.
Tentatively titled Cruella, Disney’s spin-off will also feature actress Glenn Close (who memorably played Cruella in the 1996 movie and its 2000 sequel 102 Dalmatians) as executive producer of the story. Fingers crossed she reprises the role that made her a household name. The film is bring produced by Andrew Gunn, knows for working on Disney’s live action hits like Freaky Friday, Bedtime Stories and Sky High. Aline Brosh McKenna, currently screenwriter for Disney’s upcoming Cinderella, will pen the script.
No word yet on story details, but do expect plenty of spots and a certain fur coat.
Cruella is arguably Disney’s most flamboyant and over-the-top villain (and probably the one with the coolest villain song!). However, is a movie told from her point of view really something the fans were demanding? Or does Disney have so much faith in its 2014 Sleeping Beauty spin-off Maleficent that it’s planning spin-off movies featuring all the Disney villains?
Love them or not, Cruella joins a long list of classic animated movies being given live action spin-offs and remakes, like Maleficent, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, The Jungle Book and possibly Beauty and the Beast. The Once Upon A Time effect?