‘I live for furs. I worship furs! After all, is there a woman in all this wretched world who doesn't?’ Cruella de Vil’s taste in fashion might be less in vogue today than when she made her first appearance in the 1960s animation, but the skunk-haired, chain-smoking criminal of 101 Dalmatians is set to be the topic of Disney’s newest addition to its live action line-up. Three years after the first reports that a Cruella biopic may be on the studio’s cards, it now has a confirmed leading star: Emma Stone is to take on the role of the pup-hating, fur-mad fashionista.

Playing the vile villainess may seem to fall outside Stone’s comfort zone: it was the toe-tapping musical La La Land that made Stone a household name, and before that her most notable roles were in the period drama The Help and the rom com Crazy, Stupid Love. But the past year has seen the actress go for darker tones in two comedy-dramas, the period drama The Favourite and Netflix limited series Maniac – both of which are more in line with the monochrome meanness of her newest role.

Emma Stone in La La Land

The lead actress is about the only thing set in stone, though. Broadway heavyweight Alex Timbers was billed to be the director, but as he had to withdraw because of other projects (including a stage version of Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge!), now Craig Gillespie is in talks to direct the film. Gillespie is an expert in finding depth in complicated villains: his most recent project was I, Tonya, the 2017 biopic about figure skater Tonya Harding's alleged connection to the knee-breaking attack on her rival. The director isn't a stranger to the Disney ways, as his filmography boasts The Finest Hours and Million Dollar Arm for the studio.

Disney has hit gold with its live-action makeovers recently: Maleficent, the Sleeping Beauty villainess spin-off, made $758 million at the worldwide box office, and now Simba aficionados are hyped for the new version of Lion King coming out next summer. For Cruella, though, going live won’t be a novel experience, as Glenn Close starred in the titular role in a 1996 production, which has led some to question the need for yet another one version.

But from what little has been given away about the plans, it looks like this biopic will be nothing short of sensational: the story is to be set in the early 1980s with an underground vibe. Puppies and punk, bring it on.

by Anna Hollingsworth