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HOLLYWOOD — Though rumors circulated in January, Disney has confirmed that American actress Emma Stone will star as the villain in the live-action adaptation of “101 Dalmatians” called “Cruella,” according to US Magazine.
The 27-year-old Stone (“The Help,” “Easy A”) will soon be getting a new dye job for the role (or at least an excellent wig) to go along with her already iconic husky voice as she plays one of Disney’s most classic bad guys. According to the Hollywood Reporter, “Cruella” will be more of an original story similar to Disney’s “Maleficent” than a straight retelling of the 1961 animated film. Kelly Marcel — who wrote the screenplay for “Saving Mr. Banks” — has been hired to write “Cruella.”
The movie doesn’t have a release date, but Disney said it is a part of the next three year’s slate.
Aside from the Stone flick, Disney has plenty of other live-action movies ready for release between 2017 and 2019, including “A Wrinkle in Time” directed by Ava DuVernay, “Jungle Cruise” starring Dwayne Johnson, and a Tim Burton-directed “Dumbo.”
“Maleficent” and John Favreau’s “The Jungle Book” are also set to get sequels, the latter of which has earned $533 million in the global box office since being released on April 15.
Disney also announced that Rob Marshall will direct a “Mary Poppins” movie starring Emily Blunt and featuring “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda as Jack, the lamplighter. Hopefully his Cockney accent fares better than Dick Van Dyke’s.
A Tinker Bell feature is also in the works starring Reese Witherspoon.
