Cruella (Live-Action)

[D82]

Nicholas Britell Scoring Craig Gillespie’s ‘Cruella’
http://filmmusicreporter.com/2021/03/31 ... s-cruella/

[Sotiris]

A manga adaptation of the film will be released on August 03, 2021.


Source: https://www.amazon.com/Disney-Cruella-M ... 97472347X/

[D82]

Some updates:

• Designs for clothing and other products:




Sources:
https://www.amazon.fr/Femme-Disney-Crue ... ref=sr_1_7
https://www.amazon.fr/Disney-Cruella-Ma ... ef=sr_1_22
https://www.amazon.it/Disney-Cruella-Da ... f=sr_1_166
https://www.amazon.it/Disney-Cruella-Sp ... f=sr_1_167
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WYSJ1YL/ref=sr_1_49_sspa
https://www.amazon.fr/Femme-Disney-Crue ... ef=sr_1_13
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08XY9NWVN/ref=sr_1_52_sspa
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08XY9FM2P/ref=sr_1_51_sspa


• The Total Film Magazine article in better quality: https://celebmafia.com/emma-stone-total ... e-2749535/


• First pages of the tie-in prequel novel, Hello, Cruel Heart (click on the cover to read them) and two new excerpts from it:

https://www.polygon.com/platform/amp/20 ... ook-disney
https://d23.com/read-an-exclusive-excer ... age-years/


• First pages of a Russian novelization of the movie. I used a different online translator this time, one called DeepL, because the Google translation wasn't very good. Since it's a long text and it's just the beginning of the story, I don't think it's necessary to put it in spoilers; just skip it if you don't want to know what happens yet.

Prologue

Cruella de Vil was not born this way. She made herself that way. Although, to be precise, she, like any other living creature of flesh and blood, was, of course, born. They called her Estella. And rumor has it that on the night she was born, the stars and the moon didn't dare show themselves from behind storm clouds. And rumor has it there was a wolf's howl all around and the rivers near her house boiled over.

But people say all sorts of things. And most of the time, their gossip are far from the truth. At least some of them are. Estella came into this world like any other child. Other children come into the world, kicking and screaming. But as soon as she was born, it was immediately clear that she was completely different from the other children. She looked nothing like the other children. Some called her she was one of a kind. Others special. A few or three kind-hearted passersby who saw her walking around in her stroller, might even have dared to call her cute, as long as her knitted bonnet wasn't falling off was falling from her and revealing to their eyes her hair.

Coal-black on the right, snow-white on the left. It had been striking since she was born.
They had been conspicuous by their thickness and color.
And when people around her saw it, they tended to stop thinking she was cute and began to think of her as strange.

But a mother's love is blind, and Estella's mother, Catherine, was no exception. To Catherine, Estella was the most from the moment she was born.
As the days and years passed, Estella grew from an inquisitive infant, generous with smiles, to a precocious child, who wanted to do things her own way. She began to walk earlier than any other and by the time she was two years old, she was already speaking to her mother in whole sentences.

She never seemed to notice the stares from others, and she never seemed to get over the fact that no one came to her and her mother's shabby but cozy house.

To Estella, the tiny dwelling in which she lived in didn't seem dull or or dreary. The clothes that her Mama's dressmaker, added colour to the cramped space with color and became her world. Estella ran silk, chiffon and taffeta through her fingers, marveling at their smoothness. She compared outfits and made up designs for the fabrics. She grew and her talent would show itself with renewed vigor. Sitting on her mother's lap, Estella quickly learned how to thread a needle and soon she was darning socks and hemstitching skirts. When the few pieces of furniture they had in the house finally wore out Estella would put colorful patches of leftover fabric on the upholstery.

Although sewing was easy for Estella by nature, following the rules was a little harder for her to follow. More than once, Estella's mother had to gently remind her of the ways of the world.

"Stick to the pattern," she said to her daughter. "There is a certain order."

"It's ugly," Estella said indignantly. Estella, picking up the pattern and comparing its straight, straight lines to the madness of shapes she'd conceived for her doll's new dress.

Estella's mother shook her head: "How rude. You are Estella, after all, not Cruella."

Cruella was the nickname her mother gave her when Estella was younger and was going through the torment of the "dreadful two years", followed by the torment of the "dessert years", followed by the misery of an "oppressive three years." Estella's character, when he overpowered her, could make her capricious and sometimes even angry. Estella's mother liked to remind her to keep Cruella in check (but there were times when it was easy, some of those times it was just impossible). Sometimes, when she heard the reminder, little Estella would shake her head or (when she was really mad) she would tear the pattern and stomped her foot. But she always came back to hug her mother and apologize. She didn't want to be rude. She just wanted to sew in her own way.

By the age of twelve, Estella had developed into a talented seamstress. Although she still had no friends, her mother reminded her every day that she was special.

"You can be whoever or whatever you want to be, sweetie," her mother said. "There's more to you than just black and white. You have all the colors of the rainbow."

And Estella believed her. Estella didn't need friends. Her mother and her own imagination were enough for her.

So all in all, Estella was happy. But things were about to change...

Chapter 1

Estella, twenty years old, was sitting on her bicycle looking at the huge stone building ahead of her. It showed exuberance and privilege. The day she'd been waiting for, let's face it, forever, had finally arrived.

She was about to begin her studies at an elite private school. But this change was not only exciting, but also terrifying. Estella stared at the building, absently rubbing the lining of her jacket. The soft fabric in her hand was pleasantly soothing. She smiled. Maybe this school was exactly like her jacket: one thing on the outside and on the inside something completely different.

The girl sighed. She doubted it.

The schoolyard was flooded with children, streaming in from literally every direction. Their uniforms were spotlessly clean and perfectly ironed. Expensive cars pulled up one by one, dropping off more and more students. Estella could hear joyful cheers (the girls, who had not seen for the whole vacation, rejoiced to see their friends) and the lower voices of the boys, who greeted their mates in their more subdued manner. All this sounded to Estella like foreign speech.

She turned around and looked at her mother, who was holding the bicycle beside her. The woman's graying hair seemed to slip out of a bun that had slipped to the side, and her greasy work overalls were all over the place. She was not at all like those women who waved goodbye to their children from the windows of their cars. The hair on the heads of these ladies was hair by hair. The makeup on their faces was flawless. In their every detail of their outfits had been thought of right down to the buttons. An unfamiliar feeling came over Estella: she was almost ashamed of her mother when she looked at her.

"Remember," said her mother, interrupting Estella's thoughts, "you are no worse than the other pupils."

Estella was immediately overwhelmed with a feeling of of shame. Here we are! She was ashamed of her own mother, who for years had put off every cent to get her admitted to this stupid school.
Taking a deep breath, Estella relaxed her palms on the steering wheel a little. Maybe, she hadn't gone to school with these kids before, but she wouldn't let them ruin her mood (at least she wouldn't let her mother notice her anxiety).

"Okay," she pronounced. The voice of Estella's voice sounded confident in spite of the doubts that plagued her.

Mother nodded: "And what will you say to Cruella if she tries to get the better of you?

Estella sighed. She couldn't stand the nickname her mother kept calling the slightly intimidating side of her nature. But her mother was right to remind her of that. She should learn to control herself.

"Thank you for stopping by, but you can go now," she said dutifully.

Satisfied with her reply, her mother smiled slightly. Then she looked unseeingly looking somewhere in the distance between the large imposing building and her daughter. Estella wondered what her mother was thinking now. There was a look of anxiety and deep sadness on her face.

Estella turned away and looked at a group of girls in matching uniforms. Their hats sat coquettishly on their heads. She wore exactly the same unsightly ugly jacket and a skirt to go with it, as they were (apart from a few small improvements, of which, of course, her mother didn't know). But she didn't have a hat on her head. Never.

Taking a deep breath, Estella said goodbye to her mother once more, set her bicycle at one of the racks and joined the stream of students heading for school.

Source: https://eksmo.ru/book/kruella-ITD1075411/


• The words by the actress who plays young Cruella from that article that was deleted can still be read here (major spoiler):

Tipper said: “It was really fun being on set. I saw Emma [Stone] a few times and I got to meet Emma Thompson who plays my mum. You feel very special when you do something like this. Everyone was just so nice – they’re such big stars but they just acted like normal people which is something you don’t really expect. They were all so lovely and shared loads of stories with me about other films they have done.”

Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CM18gJSBQ69/

Cruella Is Rated PG-13, Promising a Dark and Violent Reboot for Classic Disney Villain
https://movieweb.com/cruella-movie-rating-pg-13/

I didn't pay much attention to that because I didn't realize it wasn't the rating Disney films usually get. If this list is correct, this is only the 13th film under the Walt Disney Pictures label to have that rating.

I didn't know Cruella's black and white hair was supposed to be her natural hair. I just assumed she dyed it like that to go with her new punk persona. This movie being grounded in reality and not having any fantastic elements in it makes this choice not very believable. I get that they wanted her to look different as a child, and possibly make her more sympathetic by showing she was bullied because of her hair, but it doesn't quite work for me.

Do you think they'll explain why she was born with that hair? Could it have some scientific explanation?

Judging by their interactions in the trailers, it seems neither of them is aware they're related, so it's going to be a surprise for both of them when this is revealed later in the film. Unless, of course, only one of them ever finds out. I'm curious how this will play out.

I'm curious too. I still don't understand how the Baroness could be Cruella's mother, but I believe she will. There are several hints at it:

1. This book's description, which says that the relationship between Estella and the Baroness "sets in motion a course of events and revelations that will cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable, and revenge-bent Cruella."

2. This detail in the description of the Russian novelization: "it's a story about finding yourself, loss, true family, and the great art of high fashion", which probably means her real family didn't take care of her.

3. This synopsis you posted long ago, which revealed this detail: "the Baroness enters the store, wearing Cruella's special locket that was given to her by her mother — one that Cruella lost on the same night her mother passed away at the Baroness’ estate.."

4. And especially this part from the Total Film article (which also reveals that Marc Strong's character hides something): "And then there's John, the Baroness' right-hand man, played by Mark Strong, a man no stranger to playing a baddie. "You think he's in cahoots with her. And as we begin to learn that the Baroness is perhaps not all that she appears to be, John gets tainted with the same brush, as being part of her crew,'' he explains. "But he's part of a tipping point in the movie, a real twist, and a revelation, that is kind of fundamental to who young Cruella is..."

Apart from all that, they also need to explain how Cruella ends up owning Hell Hall, which has always seemed to be a family inheritance.

The magazine also says Cruella is the daughter of an impoverished laundry woman. Do you think her mother (with the help of Marc Strong's character) faked her own death and supplanted the identity of the real Baroness, who they either killed (accidentally or not) or found dead and didn't tell anyone, and couldn't take her daughter with her for some reason? Sounds very far-fetched, but it's the only theory that occurs to me right now.

Judging by the novelizations, Cruella's mother will appear at the beginning of the film. If the Baroness is her real mother, will Emma Thompson play her in those scenes? If that's the case and it's revealed to the audience that early, that would explain why the actress who plays young Cruella didn't think it was spoilery to reveal that in an interview. It would also explain why she met Emma Thompson. Though it's possible that the young version of Cruella's mother is played by another actress or that the person she called mother is not her real mother, for example. Also, the girl didn't say the Baroness was Cruella's mother, just that Emma Thompson was her mother in the film, so another possibility could be that the Baroness had a twin sister, who is Cruella's real mother. Though that sounds too complicated and would truly be like something out of a soap opera .

This is conclusive evidence the movie is not a prequel to the 1996 film, but a standalone reimagining. Not only Anita's race has been changed, but her occupation and how she and Cruella met.

Yes. We already knew they had changed some things, like Jasper's race, but this is an ever bigger departure from the 1996 film.

By the way, another surprising detail the Total Film article reveals is that there'll be a Dalmatian fur coat in the movie. Could it appear in a dream sequence or something like that? Because I don't think Cruella will manage to get one in this movie when she doesn't in all the previous films.

EDIT: I hadn't read the first pages of Hello, Cruel Heart on Amazon when I posted my comment. Though it's a prequel novel, I guess the events about Cruella's mother is what happens in the film, so clearly my theory wasn't correct. And I'm glad about it. However, I'm disappointed that they gave Cruella a reason to hate Dalmatians when she doesn't hate them in the other movies; she just wants their fur.

[Clindor]

New trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpZrVxvG3mk

[Sotiris]

Do you think they'll explain why she was born with that hair? Could it have some scientific explanation?

No, I don't think it will be explained at all. It will be just a 'freak of nature' type of thing. A bizarre and unusual physical trait that tells the audience she's unique and a misfit. It's an easy way to make us sympathize with her and root for her.

Do you think her mother (with the help of Marc Strong's character) faked her own death and supplanted the identity of the real Baroness, who they either killed (accidentally or not) or found dead and didn't tell anyone, and couldn't take her daughter with her for some reason? Sounds very far-fetched, but it's the only theory that occurs to me right now.

That sounds way too complicated and brutal for a Disney film, but it would certainly be interesting if it turned out to be true.

Though it's possible that the young version of Cruella's mother is played by another actress or that the person she called mother is not her real mother, for example.

My money is on the woman who raised her not being her biological mom.

Also, the girl didn't say the Baroness was Cruella's mother, just that Emma Thompson was her mother in the film, so another possibility could be that the Baroness had a twin sister, who is Cruella's real mother. Though that sounds too complicated and would truly be like something out of a soap opera.

That would be overkill. We can't have both the evil twin and the surprise mom trope in one movie. I was thinking that Emma Thompson might just be portraying two different characters in the film, the Baroness and Catherine, but that's unlikely. Going by all the information that has been revealed so far, I believe the Baroness will be Estella's biological mother who, for some reason, decides to give up her daughter at birth. John, her henchman, helps her with that. He is probably the one who makes the arrangements for Catherine to take the baby in. The Baroness doesn't recognize Estella when she meets her because she has dyed her hair red, doesn't have the locket, and is probably using a different name.

By the way, another surprising detail the Total Film article reveals is that there'll be a Dalmatian fur coat in the movie. Could it appear in a dream sequence or something like that? Because I don't think Cruella will manage to get one in this movie when she doesn't in all the previous films.

Yes, there's no way they'll have her realize her dog fur coat. It will probably be something that comes to her in a vision or a dream. That's probably how she'll get it into her head to make one and become obsessed with the idea.

However, I'm disappointed that they gave Cruella a reason to hate Dalmatians when she doesn't hate them in the other movies; she just wants their fur.

I can't believe they have Dalmatians kill her (adoptive) mom. That's so ridiculous. It turns out UmbrellaFish's joke wasn't that far off.

[Sotiris]

New posters.


Source: https://twitter.com/cruella/status/1379772894096461825


Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CQQJhb5qcd2/

New trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpZrVxvG3mk

This is the best trailer so far. It makes the movie seem more The Devil Wears Prada than Joker. The Baroness has a much more engaging presence than Cruella. I'm still not sold on Emma Stone in the titular role. Her accent, her wardrobe, and her entire demeanor come off as someone playing pretend than one truly inhabiting the character. I wonder how the movie is going to end. Probably with a Cruella dying fake-out. I think the Baroness saying "If I'd care about anyone or thing, I might have died" hints at her giving up her daughter.

[Sotiris]

Aside from Anita, Roger also makes an appearance in the film.

There’s so little information about Cruella’s history out there, that it felt quite liberating, but there are nods to the original story. You can see Jasper and Horace, the dognappers, in the trailer, and then Pongo and Perdita’s owners Roger and Anita make an appearance. Cruella’s obsession with Dalmatians is also covered, of course.

Source: https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifest ... -interview

[D82]

No, I don't think it will be explained at all. It will be just a 'freak of nature' type of thing. A bizarre and unusual physical trait that tells the audience she's unique and a misfit. It's an easy way to make us sympathize with her and root for her.

I think you're probably right. Besides, if there was an explanation, it would've been mentioned in one of the novelizations.

That sounds way too complicated and brutal for a Disney film, but it would certainly be interesting if it turned out to be true.

I saw a film recently where something similar happened. I guess that's why that theory occurred to me. But you're right, it's too complicated and dark for a Disney film.

My money is on the woman who raised her not being her biological mom.

After reading the beginning of the prequel novel, I agree with you.

Going by all the information that has been revealed so far, I believe the Baroness will be Estella's biological mother who, for some reason, decides to give up her daughter at birth. John, her henchman, helps her with that. He is probably the one who makes the arrangements for Catherine to take the baby in. The Baroness doesn't recognize Estella when she meets her because she has dyed her hair red, doesn't have the locket, and is probably using a different name.

That sounds quite likely. I now think the reason why the Baroness doesn't want to raise her daughter herself could be just the black and white hair. Appearances are probably very important to her and having a daughter who looks like that would be embarrassing for her. Another possible explanation could be that she had her without being married or something like that, but that would be too adult for a movie like this. I don't think it's due to her career, since she wouldn't need to take care of her personally. Nannies, private teachers or boarding schools could do it for her. But if she knows about the back and white hair, I wonder why she doesn't realize Cruella is her daughter when she sees her with that hair as an adult.

Yes, there's no way they'll have her realize her dog fur coat. It will probably be something that comes to her in a vision or a dream. That's probably how she'll get it into her head to make one and become obsessed with the idea.

Yes, it must be something like that.

I can't believe they have Dalmatians kill her (adoptive) mom. That's so ridiculous. It turns out UmbrellaFish's joke wasn't that far off.

It's true. I remember that back then I thought they wouldn't do something like that, but it seems I was wrong.

New poster.

It's not a great poster, but I prefer it to the previous ones.

This is the best trailer so far. It makes the movie seem more The Devil Wears Prada than Joker. The Baroness has a much more engaging presence than Cruella. I'm still not sold on Emma Stone in the titular role. Her accent, her wardrobe, and her entire demeanor come off as someone playing pretend than one truly inhabiting the character. I wonder how the movie is going to end. Probably with a Cruella dying fake-out.[/spoiler]

Yes, it reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada as well. I'm more impressed by the Baroness too, though Emma Stone is a also a good actress and I generally like her, so I think she'll probably be better when we watch the full film. As for the ending, I think the one who will die is the Baroness and Cruella will inherit her business, fortune and mansion.

Personally, I liked this trailer more or less the same as the first one. And is it me or is the promotion for this film more aimed at adults than children? There isn't any joke and the tone is quite dark and serious. By the way, I wondered who the Baroness was talking about at the end or why she didn't know who Cruella was at the ball, but that's because she doesn't know Cruella and Estella are the same person, right? I had to watch it several times to get it. I guess that's why Cruella always wears a mask or paint on her face when she's near the Baroness; to hide her real identity.

I think the Baroness saying "If I'd care about anyone or thing, I might have died" hints at her giving up her daughter.

I think that too.

[Sotiris]

I now think the reason why the Baroness doesn't want to raise her daughter herself could be just the black and white hair. Appearances are probably very important to her and having a daughter who looks like that would be embarrassing for her.

It's possible, but that doesn't seem like a serious enough reason. Wigs and hair dyes existed back then, so it's not something she couldn't have kept hidden.

Another possible explanation could be that she had her without being married or something like that, but that would be too adult for a movie like this.

That crossed my mind too. Something like having a child out of wedlock or having one with a man bellow her station or with one her parents didn't approve of, or cheating on her husband and having the child of her lover. But I agree those reasons are too adult and salacious for a Disney film. The DisInsider had previously reported that Cruella's father known as "The Baron" would have a small role in the film and that he was supposed to be a kindhearted person. If that's true, it complicates things even further. If the Baroness' husband was a kind man and she was faithful to him, then why would she give up their only child? I'm assuming the Baron dies early on in the film hence the "small role" and the Baroness running the business. It also crossed my mind that Mark Strong's character might be Cruella's father. Maybe he shaved his head to keep the color of his hair a secret.

I don't think it's due to her career, since she wouldn't need to take care of her personally. Nannies, private teachers or boarding schools could do it for her.

Yeah, you're right. It can't be that.

But if she knows about the black and white hair, I wonder why she doesn't realize Cruella is her daughter when she sees her with that hair as an adult.

Good point. Maybe she doesn't know about the hair after all. It's possible the baby didn't have any hair when she was born or the Baroness didn't hold her or look at her so she wouldn't get attached.

As for the ending, I think the one who will die is the Baroness and Cruella will inherit her business, fortune and mansion.

That would make sense. The trailer shows the Baroness burning down Estella's atelier/home, so it's possible she got trapped there somehow and died in the fire. If that's the case, I think Estella will learn that the Baroness was her bio mom after she dies to make her situation even more tragic.

And is it me or is the promotion for this film more aimed at adults than children? There isn't any joke and the tone is quite dark and serious.

Yes, it's more aimed at adults, but wasn't that the case with Maleficent too?

By the way, I wondered who the Baroness was talking about at the end or why she didn't know who Cruella was at the ball, but that's because she doesn't know Cruella and Estella are the same person, right? I had to watch it several times to get it. I guess that's why Cruella always wears a mask or paint on her face when she's near the Baroness; to hide her real identity.

Yep. She doesn't know that Cruella is her lowly assistant/mentee, Estella.

[D82]

It's possible, but that doesn't seem like a serious enough reason. Wigs and hair dyes existed back then, so it's not something she couldn't have kept hidden.

Yeah, it's true. I just thought that since they don't seem to use any of that in the movie when she's with Catherine, maybe they didn't consider it as an option for a little girl, but you're right; it's not an important enough reason.

That crossed my mind too. Something like having a child out of wedlock or having one with a man bellow her station or with one her parents didn't approve of, or cheating on her husband and having the child of her lover. But I agree those reasons are too adult and salacious for a Disney film. The DisInsider had previously reported that Cruella's father known as "The Baron" would have a small role in the film and that he was supposed to be a kindhearted person. If that's true, it complicates things even further. If the Baroness' husband was a kind man and she was faithful to him, then why would she give up their only child? I'm assuming the Baron dies early on in the film hence the "small role" and the Baroness running the business.

Those reasons you mentioned would make a lot of sense, but yeah, I don't think Disney would dare to do that. I'm very curious about what the real story will be.

It also crossed my mind that Mark Strong's character might be Cruella's father. Maybe he shaved his head to keep the color of his hair a secret.

It also occurred to me he could be her father. It would make sense if he was the Baroness' secret lover of one of the options you mentioned.

Maybe she doesn't know about the hair after all. It's possible the baby didn't have any hair when she was born or the Baroness didn't hold her or look at her so she wouldn't get attached.

OK, yes, that would explain it.

Yes, it's more aimed at adults, but wasn't that the case with Maleficent too?

I don't remember the trailers for Maleficent now, but I guess you're right.

Yep. She doesn't know that Cruella is her lowly assistant/mentee, Estella.

That's interesting. I guess that's also why Cruella always wears glasses when she's working as her assistant; to make her look more different from her alter ego, so the Baroness doesn't notice how much Cruella resembles her.

[Vlad]

I LOVED the trailer and the new poster looks super gorgeous.

Emma Stone as Cruella seems to be a perfect casting choice. I really hope she gets a really maniacal laugh as well, as Glenn Close did in the 1996 feature.

[D82]

According to IMDb, Emily Beecham plays Catherine, Cruella's mother, in the film. (via Disney Live-Actions Brasil)

[D82]

First look at Emily Beecham's character and some other images from the book "Cruella's Sketchbook" (more and a bit more spoilery ones on the links):


Sources:
https://twitter.com/DisneyLABR/status/1 ... 2987064324
https://www.instagram.com/disney__news/ (on the Instagram story)


This peek at the book also reveals (mild spoilers) Cruella and Anita will meet at school and that there are two bullies there Cruella refers to as "Mean Ginger and his friend". Here's also a look at Cruella's mother's locket (she's also wearing it in the first still I posted).


By the way, I now think the following scene is probably from one of Cruella and her friends' cons. That would explain why she's blond there and why that look was so tacky.

[D82]

Some more stills from "Cruella's Sketchbook" and a look at some of the film's costumes on this Spanish article. Also, according to this tweet and a couple of theater websites, Cruella is 134 minutes long.

[Disney Duster]

I smell a Best Costumes Oscar. I looooove that silver dress, but all the costumes are really incredible.

[D82]

^I agree. I think the film at least will be nominated in the category next year.

[lord-of-sith]

Costumes and scenic design look amazing. Only aesthetic choice that bothers me is still Cruella's wig

[D82]

Latin American TV spot featuring new footage (via Disney Live-Actions Brasil).

[Disney Duster]

I am glad we agree it will at least get a nom in costumes D82! I'm also glad lord-of-sith likes the costumes so much!

[Sotiris]

https://i.imgur.com/hqlmLj6.jpg

I like this look of hers. Even her wig looks good there.

This peek at the book also reveals (mild spoilers) Cruella and Anita will meet at school and that there are two bullies there Cruella refers to as "Mean Ginger and his friend".

I knew they would have Estella be bullied as a kid to make her more sympathetic. It's interesting they have Anita go to school with her like in the original, but gave her a different occupation. I wonder if Anita was also interested in a career in fashion, but for some reason had to settle with being a journalist.

By the way, I now think the following scene is probably from one of Cruella and her friends' cons. That would explain why she's blond there and why that look was so tacky.

You're right. It does look like it's one of her schemes.

Some more stills from "Cruella's Sketchbook" and a look at some of the film's costumes on this Spanish article.

I love the sketch of the white cloak in "Cruella's Sketchbook". It looks much better than what they ended up going with in the ball scene.

I think the film at least will be nominated in the category next year.

I also believe it will be nominated for costume design and make-up & hairstyling, but I'm not so sure it will win in either category. It depends on the competition. There's also a stigma that comes with Disney remakes which decreases its winning chances.

Latin American TV spot featuring new footage.

That was a great TV spot. I'm actually excited for this movie despite some silly elements and narrative choices. It's hard to believe I went from being completely cold on this project to looking forward to it.