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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Screen & Stage • Film

Cruella (film)

Cruella is a 2021 American crime comedy-drama film that serves as an origin story for Cruella de Vil, the villain from Dodie Smith’s The Hundred and One Dalmatians.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Cruella is a 2021 American crime comedy-drama that serves as an origin story for the iconic villain Cruella de Vil. Directed by Craig Gillespie and starring Emma Stone, the film reimagines the character’s transformation in 1970s London.

What it is

Cruella is a live-action origin story based on Dodie Smith’s 1956 novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians. It follows Estella Miller, an aspiring fashion designer and grifter, as she becomes the ambitious, rebellious Cruella de Vil. The film is set against London’s punk rock movement and runs 134 minutes.

Key details

Directed by Craig Gillespie, written by Dana Fox and Tony McNamara, the film stars Emma Stone as Cruella and Emma Thompson as Baroness von Hellman. Supporting cast includes Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser, Emily Beecham, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, and Mark Strong. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures, it was released on May 28, 2021.

Why it matters

Cruella is the third live-action adaptation in the 101 Dalmatians franchise and reframes a classic villain as a complex, ambitious figure. For Canadian audiences, it was widely available through theatrical release and Disney+ Premier Access, reflecting Disney’s hybrid distribution model during the pandemic.

In short

  • Cruella is an origin story for the villain from The Hundred and One Dalmatians.
  • Set in 1970s London during the punk rock movement.
  • Emma Stone plays Estella Miller, who becomes Cruella de Vil.
  • Released on May 28, 2021, in theatres and on Disney+ Premier Access.
Canadian angle

The film was widely available to Canadian audiences through its international theatrical release and Disney+ distribution model, making it part of the broader Disney franchise consumed in Canada.[12]

Quick questions

What is Cruella about?
It is an origin story showing how Estella Miller becomes Cruella de Vil, set in 1970s London.
Who stars in Cruella?
Emma Stone stars as Cruella, with Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser, Emily Beecham, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, and Mark Strong in supporting roles.
When was Cruella released?
It was released on May 28, 2021.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruella_(film)
    Supports: Basic film credits, synopsis, production companies, franchise context, release year, and setting.
  2. Disney — https://movies.disney.com/cruella
    Supports: Official release date, runtime, rating, cast, genre, and synopsis.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3228774/
    Supports: Plot summary and title information.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3228774/plotsummary/
    Supports: Plot summary focused on Estella's transformation.