Disney Already Developing a ‘Cruella’ Sequel With Craig Gillespie Likely Returning to Direct

Now streaming on Disney+, director Craig Gillespie‘s Cruella reimagines the origin story of 101 Dalmatians villain Cruella de Vil, with Emma Stone playing the title character. Also playing in theaters, Cruella has managed to make $50 million at the worldwide box office thus far, and it seems it’s doing pretty well on Disney+ too as a sequel is on the way.

According to The Hollywood Reporter this weekend, Disney is indeed already developing Cruella 2, with Gillespie likely returning to direct and Tony McNamara returning to write.

“We are very pleased with Cruella’s box office success, in conjunction with its strong Disney+ Premier Access performance to date,” a Disney spokesperson said in a statement shared by THR. “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.”

It’s probably safe to assume that Stone will be back to play Cruella in the sequel, which was set up at the tail end of the first movie. Cruella de Vil has now completely left her previous identity behind and become the Cruella we know, though don’t expect her to be killing and skinning any dogs in Cruella 2. This iteration of the character isn’t quite *that* evil, after all.

The all-new live-action feature film is about the rebellious early days of one of cinemas most notorious – and notoriously fashionable – villains, the legendary Cruella de Vil.

Cruella, which is set in 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution, follows a young grifter named Estella, a clever and creative girl determined to make a name for herself with her designs. She befriends a pair of young thieves who appreciate her appetite for mischief, and together they are able to build a life for themselves on the London streets. One day, Estella’s flair for fashion catches the eye of the Baroness von Hellman, a fashion legend who is devastatingly chic and terrifyingly haute, played by two-time Oscar® winner Emma Thompson. But their relationship sets in motion a course of events and revelations that will cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable and revenge-bent Cruella.

Disney’s Cruella is directed by Craig Gillespie (I Tonya) from a screenplay by Dana Fox and Tony McNamara, story by Aline Brosh McKenna and Kelly Marcel & Steve Zissis.