Disney has once again reshuffled the release dates for its upcoming movies and while Cruella's date will remain unchanged, the ways you'll be able to watch it is expanding. The live-action film will still be releasing on May 28, as previously dated, but you'll now be able to watch it in theaters or on Disney+.
It was previously unknown if the movie would get a simultaneous theatrical and streaming release, as has been the case for much of the COVID-19 pandemic, or if it would only be shown in theaters. And even though the number of COVID-19 infections had dropped in recent weeks, Disney is still not quite ready to fully commit to the old way of releasing films in theaters.
So if you're still not quite ready to return to theaters to watch Cruella when it arrives on May 28, you'll be able to watch it on Disney+. As was the case with Raya and the Last Dragon and Mulan, Disney will be charging its usual Premiere Access rental fee of $30 on top of the monthly Disney+ subscription. It's quite likely that Cruella will eventually wind up being free on the streaming service, but Disney usually waits a couple of months before removing the additional fee.
Cruella stars Emma Stone as the titular character in what is shaping up to be a very intriguing look at the early days of Cruella de Vil. The origin story has been rated PG-13 for "some violence" and "thematic elements" which, if you've seen the trailers, shouldn't come as much of a surprise.
Academy Award® winner Emma Stone (“La La Land”) stars in Disney’s “Cruella,” an all-new live-action feature film about the rebellious early days of one of cinemas most notorious – and notoriously fashionable – villains, the legendary Cruella de Vil. “Cruella,” which is set in 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution, follows a young grifter named Estella, a clever and creative girl determined to make a name for herself with her designs. She befriends a pair of young thieves who appreciate her appetite for mischief, and together they are able to build a life for themselves on the London streets. One day, Estella’s flair for fashion catches the eye of the Baroness von Hellman, a fashion legend who is devastatingly chic and terrifyingly haute, played by two-time Oscar® winner Emma Thompson (“Howards End,” “Sense & Sensibility”). But their relationship 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.
Do you plan on watching Cruella in theaters or on Disney+ when it releases on May 28, 2021?