The first official trailer for <em>Cruella</em>, a live-action prequel to the Disney classic <em>101 Dalmatians </em>starring Emma Stone, has dropped. In the 90-second preview, Stone, 32, puts on an almost Harley Quinn or Joker-like performance as she portrays the movie villain. The Arizona-born actress has perfected her English accent, and the trailer opens with a very-together Cruella walking through the streets of 1970s London. Famed department store Liberty London serves as a backdrop for these scenes. The film looks set to depict her journey to evil. Cruella is a punk and aspiring fashion designer, who wants the city's wealthiest to notice her work. However, throughout the short preview, she seems to unravel, before announcing at the end: "I'm Cruella." Fashion looks set to be a key element in the telling of Cruella's origin story. We see the character with her trademark black and white hair, and other notable style moments include a textured black leather jacket with a cane, and Cruella setting her cape alight at a high-society party to reveal a striking red gown. Incidentally, as she walks into the black-and-white themed event, there is a trio of growling Dalmatian dogs. As it's a prequel, fans shouldn't expect to see revised takes of Roger and Anita Dearly, nor their loved-up Dalmatians, Pongo and Perdy, and their brood of 101 puppies. The original animated <em>101 Dalmatians</em> was released in 1961 and a live-action remake followed in 1996, which starred Glenn Close as Cruella de Vil. Craig Gillespie (<em>I, Tonya</em> and <em>Lars and the Real Girl</em>) directs the 2021 film, which also stars Emma Thompson, Mark Strong and Emily Beecham. The film's original release date was postponed; it was initially set for a Christmas 2020 release, however it's been rescheduled to come out on Friday, May 28. It is currently set for a cinema release, however, amid the <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/coronavirus">coronavirus pandemic</a> that could change to a Disney+ release, according to Disney chief executive Bob Chapek, who was referring to the slate of upcoming releases from the studio.
