Disney's stylish villain origin story may finally be getting its long-promised follow-up, as director Craig Gillespie breaks his silence on the status of the "Cruella" sequel. The filmmaker has offered fans a glimmer of hope nearly four years after the project was first announced.
Gillespie recently addressed the prolonged wait during an interview, acknowledging that the sequel remains a possibility. While he stopped short of confirming a green light, his comments marked the first substantial update in months.
"That's going to be something else that's on the agenda," Gillespie said, suggesting the project has not been abandoned despite the extended silence from the studio.
The original "Cruella" premiered in 2021 to both critical praise and commercial success, grossing over $233 million worldwide during the pandemic era. Disney moved quickly to announce a sequel, with Emma Stone attached to reprise her Golden Globe-winning performance as the iconic fashion-forward antagonist.
Since that initial announcement, however, development has moved at a glacial pace. The studio has offered no official timeline, and Stone herself remained tight-lipped when asked about the project last year, simply describing it as a "work in progress."
Industry observers note that Disney's crowded release schedule and shifting priorities may have contributed to the delay. The company has focused heavily on theatrical releases for its animated remakes and Marvel properties, potentially pushing live-action sequels further down the pipeline.
The first film reimagined the classic "101 Dalmatians" villain as Estella, a young fashion designer whose ambition and flair for the dramatic gradually transform her into the notorious Cruella de Vil. The movie blended period-piece aesthetics with punk-rock energy, earning particular praise for its costume design and Stone's magnetic performance.
For fans eager to revisit the world of 1970s London fashion and canine-inspired mischief, the original "Cruella" remains available on Disney's streaming platform. Whether audiences will eventually see Estella's next chapter remains uncertain, but Gillespie's latest remarks suggest the sequel has not been permanently shelved.
As Disney continues to evaluate its upcoming slate, the status of "Cruella 2" may become clearer in the coming months. Until then, admirers of the franchise can take comfort in knowing that the project still has champions behind the scenes fighting to bring it to the screen.
