Cruella (film) Live-action origin story about Cruella de Vil. Amid the punk rock revolution of 1970s London, a clever and creative young grifter named Estella is 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. 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. Released May 28, 2021, in U.S. theaters and digitally on Disney+, after a May 26 international release. A May 18 premiere at the El Capitan Theatre marked the first major Hollywood red-carpet event during the coronavirus pandemic era. Directed by Craig Gillespie. Stars Emma Stone (Estella/Cruella), Emma Thompson (The Baroness), Joel Fry (Jasper), Paul Walter Hauser (Horace), Emily Beecham (Catherine/Maid), Kirby Howell-Baptiste (Anita Darling), Mark Strong (John the Valet), Kayvan Novak (Roger), John McCrea (Artie). 134 min. The film was shot in 2 different formats—35 mm for Estella/Cruella’s grittier world and 65 mm for the refined world of The Baroness. The costumes were a major undertaking; Emma Stone had 47 costume changes and Emma Thompson had 33. Based on the novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith. Filmed in wide-screen format at Shepperton Studios and on location in central London and across the U.K., including a variety of manor houses such as Knebworth House. Nominated for 2 Academy Awards, winning for Best Costume Design (Jenny Beavan). In the 1961 Disney animated feature and 1996 live-action adaptation, the character’s name is spelled Cruella De Vil.
