18 Astonishing Facts You Didn't Know About Disney's Blockbuster Movie, Cruella

Nothing gets us more excited than a new Disney movie, so we we're thrilled to discover these "Cruella" behind-the-scenes facts!

Jesse

• Published in Disney
• October 17, 2021

Disney's latest blockbuster movie, Cruella, is a story of how a nefarious little girl who is obsessed with fashion became one of the most iconic female villains in the Disney universe. As one of Disney's latest new movies, it has been praised for its inclusive cast and groundbreaking approach to the beloved villain—but what many people don't know about this film is that it's full of fascinating behind-the-scenes facts!

There are secrets and details in this movie that Disney fans will recognize, but there are also surprising facts you probably never knew about Cruella.

Here is something to take you behind the scenes of Cruella and beyond!

1. Emma Stone first learned about Cruella while filming the movie La La Land.

Emma Stone began talks for the role as far back as 2016. But before playing the iconic Disney villainess, she was involved in Maniac and The Favourite.

2. As someone who compartmentalizes her life, Emma Stone was a natural fit for this reimagining of Cruella de Vil.

"I compartmentalise a bit – even because my name is actually Emily, so when someone calls me Emma, it's easy for me to know that it has to do with work." Emma said.

3. Her work on Cruella was influenced by her experience as Sally Bowles in Cabaret.

From 2014 to 2015, Emma Stone appeared in the Broadway production of Cabaret.

According to her "The list of actresses who have played that role is insane. I realized the only way I could actually do it was to completely forget all that, and play it as if no one had ever played it before. It was the same with Cruella. I can't think about Glenn Close – I have to create an entirely new character."

4. The executive producer of Cruella was none other than the movie's icon, Glenn Close.

Glenn is best known for her roles in 101 Dalmatians and 102 Dalmatians, in which she played the first live Cruella De Vil.

5. Interestingly, the age gap between Emily Beecham (who features as Cruella's mother in the movie) and Emma Stone is just 5 years. While the age gap between Emma Stone and Emma Thompson (The Baroness) is 30 years.

6. In creating Cruella De Vil's trademark laugh, Emma Stone drew inspiration from by the late actress, Tallulah Bankhead, a true Hollywood legend.

The actress said she tried to emulate Tallulah Bankhead who is rumored to have been the muse for the animated Cruella - at least in her demeanor and the way she spoke. To prepare for the role, Emma even viewed a number of Tallulah's films.

7. Cruella's trademark cigarette holder was not permitted by Disney in order to avoid encouraging children to smoke.

In an interview with New York Times, Emma Stone gave an insight into the decision "That is not allowed in 2021. It was difficult to not have that cigarette holder... I was so excited to have that green plume of smoke in there, but it was not possible."

8. Jenny Beavan, a two-time Oscar winner for costume design, created all of Cruella's ensembles and has previously worked with Emma Thompson.

Jenny examined classic vintage Vogue covers and drew inspiration from the works of designers such as John Galliano, Vivienne Westwood, Christian Dior, and Alexander McQueen to create Cruella's punk look.

As a veteran costume designer, Jenny has contributed to a variety of costume-heavy films, such as The King's Speech, Mad Max: Fury Road (which won her a second Academy Award and the BAFTA Award), Remains of the Day, Sense and Sensibility, Howard's End etc.

9. Out of all 47 costumes, the garbage truck gown with a 40-foot train was Emma Stone's favorite.

In Emma's words “My very favorite outfit that was absolutely ludicrous was the dress that I wore on the garbage truck, because there was a 40-foot train. It wasn’t attached to the dress at first, because obviously I wouldn't be able to move, so they added it at the last minute when I got onto the garbage truck to shoot that part.”

"It was just phenomenal. It’s nothing you would ever be able to even remotely wear in real life.” She added.

10. Emma Thompson didn't have as much fun in her costumes. In fact, she had to call on a team of people each time she needed to use the restroom.

"Peeing was hard and involved a team of people. Also the shoes were a real challenge... I had wigs as well, so I was a great deal taller than I'm used to being. I used to have to move in and out of spaces sideways." She said.

11. CGI was used to make the dogs appear ferocious.

While a majority of people didn't seem to notice, there were a few that observed that the faces of the dogs were CGIed.

Emma Thompson explained that "Because they were such sweet dogs, they had to CGI them to be a bit nasty. They were so nice and they worked so hard."

12. This is Bobby Gizmo's second appearance in a Disney movie.

Bobby Gizmo stars as "Buddy," Cruella De Vil's dog companion in the Disney movie (Cruella). He has also appeared in Beauty And The Beast, as Froufrou.

13. Emma Stone always found is absolutely hilarious when Emma Thompson (The Baroness) had to hurl her lunch out of the window of a moving car. She described it as one of her "favorite moments" on set.

In an interview with film critic Ashley Saunders, Emma Stone explained "That's one of my favorite moments. The Baroness throws the cloth napkin and the actual fork out of the window. It really made me laugh when we were shooting it. Every time she did it, it made me laugh."

14. Before Emma Thompson was cast as the Baroness, Nicole Kidman was the leading candidate for the role.

Actresses like Demi Moore, Charlize Theron, and Julianne Moore were also in the running for the role.

15. Award-winning English actor, Dev Patel, was a strong contender for the role of Roger Dearly.

In the end, Kayvan Novak, the actor best known for his role in Four Lions, was selected.

16. Emma Stone injured her shoulder in two places and needed physical therapy; thus, filming had to be postponed.

Emma suffered a severe shoulder injury after tripping and falling in 2019. It was right before a Spice Girls concert in London, which she attended while wearing a sling!

Filming had to be delayed by two months because of Emma's shoulder injury, which was discovered via X-ray and revealed to require physical treatment to help it heal quickly.

17. It's a curious fact that even though Cruella De Vil is an English character, this iconic villainess has never been played or voiced by an English actress.

Perhaps someone somewhere from England has played her, but in the history of notable Cruella variations, a majority of the actresses have been American.

Out of the 8 major iterations of Cruella De Vil, six have been voiced and played by Americans, while the remaining 2 actresses are Scottish (Michelle Gomez -101 Dalmatian Street) and Irish (Victoria Smurfit, in the 4th and 5th season of ABC’s Once Upon a Time).

18. Finally, Cruella arrived in cinemas on the 28th of May, 2021; the birthday of late Disney star, Cameron Boyce.

In the Disney Descendants film series, Cameron featured as Cruella's son.

Jesse