**Warning: the following contains spoilers from ‘Cruella’ starring Emma Stone.
Disney’s origin story Cruella may be considered too dark and edgy for some, but for most, it was the perfect way to delve into the backstory of Disney’s most fashionable villain.
The live-action blockbuster, starring Emma Stone and Emma Thompson and helmed by Australian director Craig Gillespie, explores the 101 Dalmations baddie when she was known as Estella — an orphan and aspiring fashion designer in 70s punk London. When our protagonist goes to work for Baroness von Hellman (Thompson) it seems her sartorial aspirations may come true, until she discovers that the Baroness killed her mother and begins her evolution into Cruella de Vil.
In a mid-credits scene, we see the Baroness’s former lawyer Roger (Kayvan Novak) receive a surprise delivery of one dalmatian pup, along with a note that reads: “Meet Pongo! Enjoy, Cruella.”
Meanwhile, Cruella’s childhood-friend-turned-journalist, Anita (Kirby Howell-Baptiste), also receives a cute pooch on her doorstep with a note that reads: “Meet Perdita! See you soon, Cruella.”
The scene would suggest that it was Cruella all along who gave her rivals their beloved dogs, who enable Anita and Roger to meet and fall in love in the original animated film and who, of course, become parents to the 101 Dalmations Cruella wants to desperately to turn into a vest. One can only assume, also, that Pongo and Perdita were the offspring of the dalmatians that Cruella stole from Baroness von Hellman to exact revenge.
While the scene does not confirm that there will be a sequel to Cruella, both Stone and Thompson have expressed their eagerness to be involved, with Thompson even telling Rotten Tomatoes that she would happily write the screenplay herself.
After it was suggested to the duo that they embark on Godfather II-style sequel with Glenn Close — who portrayed the villain in the 1996’s 101 Dalmations and its 2000 follow up — both actresses vehemently agreed that they would be on board with such a concept.
For her part, Close has previously expressed an interest in revisiting the role in a third live-action film with the actress telling Variety, “I have a great story to make another Cruella with my Cruella. Cruella comes to New York and disappears down the sewers.”
Cruella starring Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser, Emily Beecham, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, and Mark Strong is now showing in Hoyts cinemas. Check session times, here.
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