The glare in her look, the ice in her stare; you innocent children had better beware... Not, perhaps, lines that would currently put you in mind of Emma Stone. But all that may be about to change, since Disney has picked her as Cruella De Vil in its developing live-action 101 Dalmations spin-off.
Following the likes of Maleficent, this is Disney's latest plundering of its back catalogue for an origin story. Not much is yet known about what we can expect to learn of Cruella's past, but Kelly Marcel (Saving Mr Banks, Fifty Shades Of Grey) is at work on the latest draft of the screenplay. She's taken over from Aline Brosh McKenna (Annie) in working out the trajectory that made Cruella the chain-smoking mass slaughterer of spotty dogs that we know and love.
Originating in the 1956 Dodie Smith novel that became Disney’s 1961 ‘toon take, Cruella has been seen in live-action twice already, portrayed by Glenn Close in 1996’s 101 Dalmatians and 2000’s follow-up 102 Dalmatians. Close is actually connected to this new film, but only as a producer so far.
Stone is currently "in talks", so there's been no signing on the dotted line quite yet, although it's sounding likely. There's no director in place yet either, but that should also be sorted soon, since Disney are hoping to get Cruella De Vil before the cameras this year.