Following its theatrical release and Disney+ debut last Friday, Disney’s newest live-action feature Cruella has been receiving a good amount of positive responses from critics and audiences alike, who are praising the film’s direction, costume design, and soundtrack as well as Emma Stone and Emma Thompson’s performances. The film currently sits at a gross of over 40 million worldwide, which helped to reignite the box office since the pandemic started last year. If Cruella continues gaining incredible numbers, a potential sequel might not be too far ahead in its future.
In a recent interview with Collider, when asked if he was willing to direct a possible Cruella sequel, director Craig Gillespie confirmed that he’s very open to returning as long as it’s with the same cast and creative team.
“If it was with this gang. It was such a joy to work with everybody, and Tony writing it, and Disney was so supportive. They really fostered a feeling of safety where we could just really go for it without the repercussions. We all were pushing it all the time and thinking, “I don’t know if Disney’s gonna be okay with this,” but they would always call and be okay,” Gillespie said.
The Oscar-nominated filmmaker also believes that viewers had just started getting to know the titular character and that there are additional stories to tell about her, especially with how well will she handle the new power that she inherited.
“I feel like we’ve only just met her,” Gillespie teased of sequel plans for Cruella. “I’d love to now see the full-blown Cruella, fully loaded. She’s managed to get the support system around her and she can really expand on her brand. I’d love to see where that takes her and how you could almost destroy her from inside out, if she’s not careful with all that power.
In addition, Stone and Thompson also expressed how they love the idea of returning for a sequel with original Cruella actress Glenn Close. Speaking with Rotten Tomatoes, when it was suggested that the potential sequel for Cruella could be made in the similar storytelling style as The Godfather Part II, the Oscar-winning actresses quickly shared their enthusiasm for the idea, with Thompson even entertaining the idea of writing it.
A Godfather II-style #Cruella sequel with Glenn Close returning? Emma Stone and Emma Thompson are in! pic.twitter.com/Xftg4AFcB0
— Rotten Tomatoes (@RottenTomatoes) May 29, 2021
Disney’s Cruella is directed by I, Tonya filmmaker Craig Gillespie from a screenplay written by Dana Fox and Tony McNamara, based on a story by Aline Brosh McKenna and Kelly Marcel & Steve Zissis. It is executive produced by original Cruella actress Glenn Close with Emma Stone, Michelle Wright, Jared LeBoff, Andrew Gunn, Marc Platt, and Kristin Burr set as producers. Two-time Oscar-winning costume designer Jenny Beavan (Mad Max: Fury Road) creates the dazzling and imaginative costumes, which take on a life of their own.
The film is now available for viewing in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access.