Emma Stone gives an update on Cruella 2: Is it still happening?

Emma Stone just gave an update on the planned Cruella sequel but it may not be what fans had hoped for. 

Often considered one of the greatest Disney villains ever, Curella DeVille was the antagonist of the 1961 animated classic 101 Dalmatians. A fashion designer, Cruella was obsessed with capturing a family of dalmatians so she could turn them into fur coats. Notable for her outlandish behavior and a great song, Cruella became a Disney favorite. 

The character has remained popular, with Glenn Close playing her in the 1996 live-action hit adaptation and the 2000 sequel. Victoria Smurfit took on the role for the ABC series Once Upon a Time. 

2021’s Cruella had Emma Stone as Estella, a would-be designer in 1970s London who suspects the powerful Baroness (Emma Thompson) killed her mother. To get close to her, Estella adopts the wild persona of Cruella and becomes a fashion rival for the Baroness. That leads to a few revelations about her past.

The film was a good hit, more impressive given it was released amid the Covid-19 pandemic. It made $233 million worldwide and, as part of a special “rental” on Disney+, an additional $21 million via streaming. 

To no surprise, Disney green-lit a sequel just a week after the 2021 premiere. There was a question about when it could come out, and a mild update has come. 

Emma Stone on the status of Cruella 2

Speaking to Variety while attending the 2024 Palm Springs International Film Awards, Stone was asked about the status of Cruella 2 and noted how it’s still in the pre-production stages. Like all Hollywood productions, the WGA and SAG strikes in 2023 have delayed its progress, but the actress seems hopeful it’ll be coming soon. 

“Hopefully sooner rather than later,” Stone said. “There’s a work-in-progress kind of thing going on. Yeah, yeah. We’ll see… She’s a blast, so we’ll see.”

Stone is keeping busy as at the ceremony, she received the Desert Palm Achievement Award for an actress, for her performance in Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things, which is expected to land her another Oscar nomination. 

The first film ended with Estella defeating the Baroness and fully embracing her Cruella persona. It’s up in the air what the plot can involve as it’s unlikely it will directly adapt the original Dalmatians story but continue to show Stone as an anti-hero. 

Either way, at least the actress seems eager to don Curella’s wig and dresses once more and show more of this interpretation of the iconic Disney character.

Cruella streaming on Disney+.