"Mozart in the Jungle" writer and director Alex Timbers is in negotiations to direct the live-action movie "Cruella" starring "La La Land" actress Emma Stone. The movie is a re-imagining of the villain's tale from the children's classic "101 Dalmatians."
According to Variety, Disney considered a slew of directors for the "Cruella" movie including a handful of theater helmers like Sam Gold before turning to Timbers. "Edge of Tomorrow" writer Jez Butterworth wrote the most recent draft of the screenplay. "Race to Witch Mountain" producer Andrew Gunn is producing, while "Ice Princess" producer Kristin Burr and "Mercy" producer Jessica Virtue are overseeing the film for the studio.
Stone will play the titular character Cruella De Vil in "Cruella." Her character was the villain obsessed with capturing the puppies in the 1961 animated classic "101 Dalmatians." "The Wife" actress Glenn Close played the same character in the 1996 live-action film of the same name produced by John Hughes in which she was also the head of a fashion house.
The news about Timbers to direct "Cruella" comes after he and Disney parted ways over the Broadway-bound adaptation of "Frozen" in which he was supposed to direct. Timber has not wanted for work. The two-time Tony-nominated writer and director is about to begin rehearsals at the Public Theater with "Joan of Arc: Into The Fire," his second collaboration with Talking Heads member David Byrne after the huge hit "Here Lies Love about Imelda Marcos," Deadline reported.
Best known for his work on Broadway, Timbers' theater credits include an adaptation of the boxing classic "Rocky" and "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson" in which he earned a Tony nomination. In addition to his Amazon's "Mozart in the Jungle," he has also been developing several film projects including the untitled William Shakespeare musical for Disney.
The studio wants to start production of "Cruella" early next year.
Watch the video about Alex Timbers to direct live-action "Cruella":
