The ending of Disney’s latest live-action remake Cruella leaves the door open for a sequel, but the filmmakers will have to choose which direction they take their iconic canine-coveting villainess. The 2021 Emma Stone vehicle joins a long line of dalmatian-based Disney properties, dating back to the animated originator of the 60s. With so much material from which to draw, the writers have helpful guideposts at their disposal, but also must reconcile the differences in characterization across various De Vil portrayals. Despite the challenges, and despite the box office figures for Cruella, Disney has greenlit a sequel. To predict where that film will take the designer and her Dalmatians, a look back is in order.
Click the button below to start this article in quick view.
In 1961, Disney adapted the 1956 British children’s novel by Dodie Smith into One Hundred and One Dalmatians, whose box office success rescued the studio from a financial downturn caused by the expensive production of Sleeping Beauty (1959). Nearly 40 years later, still in the early stages of the studio’s attempts to remake their animated classics in live-action, 101 Dalmatians (1996) told the same fanciful story featuring the likes of Jeff Daniels, Hugh Laurie, and in the villainous role of Cruella de Vil, Glenn Close. A follow-up to the ’96 film, 102 Dalmatians (2000) came next, while an animated direct-to-video sequel and television series rounded out the franchise until the arrival of Cruella. With a remaining perspective not unlike Maleficent (2014), Cruella puts De Vil into the protagonist role, leaving her abundant options as she progresses into a sequel.
The traditional De Vil role has been characterized by delightfully devilish behavior. From Betty Lou Gerson’s original vocal performance to Close’s campy live-action turn, a Cruella sequel must find a way to relate its more sympathetic approach to its predecessors. Three options for sequel direction present themselves: first, a straight sequel focusing solely on the roots established in the 2021 film. Next, a prequel/sequel hybrid for which speculation has already been rampant; stars Emma Thompson and Emma Stone loved the Godfather-II-style pitch when it was suggested Stone and Close play older and younger Cruella in the same film. And with Close eager to return to the iconic role, a reboot of 101 Dalmatians makes for the third option. Looking in-depth at each avenue reveals the strengths and weaknesses of the three different approaches.
Cruella 2
Cruella is singular in its approach among its fellow films in the Dalmatians franchise. The primary issue any sequel which relates to the other movies will encounter is how to keep Cruella a sympathetic protagonist while incorporating her pure villainy from the other films. The Cruella 2 approach would free the upcoming sequel from this dilemma, ignoring the events of past films and focusing on a more natural extension of the narrative from the original. This is not to say Cruella 2 would veer off in an entirely unfamiliar direction. The film could happily pick and choose elements of the Dalmatians canon that play nicely with Cruella’s empathetic portrayal. Especially with criticisms of Disney’s live-action remakes as feeling unadventurous, a sequel not based explicitly on a Disney property of old could be a breath of fresh air.
The most obvious comparison for Cruella has been Maleficent (2014). Each is technically a live-action remake of a classic Disney property, but with the narrative twist of placing the villain in the protagonist role. The comparisons extend further, with each receiving mixed reviews that praise the cast but criticize the writing. Both are narratively braver than most of their ilk, and given Maleficent spawned a sequel of its own Mistress of Evil (2019), that film makes for as good a predictor of Cruella 2‘s success as any. Unfortunately, the sequel fared similarly to its predecessor, earning a mixed reception once again, so perhaps a different approach is in order.
A Cruella Prequel/Sequel Hybrid
Among the most well-regarded sequels in the business is The Godfather Part II (1974), hailed for its expansion on an already-celebrated original narrative and continued excellence in all areas of filmmaking. From a writing perspective, Godfather Part II (and Godfather) looks both forwards and backward, examining the life and rise of young Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) and contrasting it with that of his presently ascending son Michael (Al Pacino). In a similar fashion, a Cruella sequel could use this approach to comment on the character’s villainous destination, showing her deterioration from young Estella, who’d never even think to skin a dog for a coat, to old Cruella, for whom skinning Dalmatian puppies is a life goal.
Such an idea has already garnered support from some important figures in the film’s production. Emma Stone and Emma Thompson expressed excitement for such an idea in an interview with Rotten Tomatoes, specifically citing the Godfather II comparison. Glenn Close, who served as executive producer on Cruella, has publicly stated her desire to return to the role she so deliciously embodied in the ’96 version 101 Dalmatians, which brings about the final option.
101 Dalmatians
In its closing moments, Cruella sets up the pieces for a remake of the original classic One Hundred and One Dalmatians story, or perhaps more aptly, the first live-action remake from 1996. Cruella sends Pongo and Perdita, the central pooches of the original story, to Roger and Anita, seemingly destined to end up together. Roger is said to have blamed Cruella for his dismissal, establishing his position opposite her in a sort of protagonist-versus-antagonist relationship. This deliberate table setting on the part of Cruella may suggest a 101 Dalmatians reboot, as being the frontrunner for the sequel currently in development at Disney.
Then again, the fact that Cruella has a pre-existing friendship with Anita in this canon, or that she was the one who provided Roger and Anita their Dalmatians in the first place, could complicate a straight retread of the original work. And Cruella is unlikely to function both as a protagonist and a successfully devilish villain in a straight 101 Dalmatians remake. It remains to be seen what a Cruella sequel will do with its titular character, but rest assured there is enough excitement from the principal players to gin up support for this IP’s future.
About The Author