Birdman Emma Stone to Portray Iconic Disney Villianess Cruella de Vil From 101 Dalmatians

Birdman actress Emma Stone is in early negotiations to play iconic Disney villainess Cruella de Vil in a live action film that tells the early origins of her character.  The infamous puppy hater made her debut in 1961 as the animated antagonist who wanted to skin the 101 Dalmatians. She was first played live by Glenn Close in the 1996 reboot and in its sequel 102 Dalmatians.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the script for the prequel of the Disney classic will be penned by Kelly Marcel, whose previous credits include another Disney related story, Saving Mr. Banks, which told the story of the making of 1964's Mary Poppins. On the other end of the spectrum, Marcel also wrote the screenplay for Fifty Shades of Grey.

Playing de Vil will be something of a departure for Stone. The 27-year-old Oscar nominee has played primarily comedic parts starting with her small but breakout role as the object of Jonah Hill's desires in Superbad. She followed that by starring in Easy A by Will Gluck, Magic in the Moonlight by Woody Allen and more recently in Aloha by Cameron Crowe.

Stone was also Peter Parker's damsel in distress, Gwen Stacy, in The Amazing Spider-Man and its sequel as well as femme fatale Grace Faraday in Gangster Squad. However, the dog napping fur fiend will allow her to get in touch with her evil, albeit campy side. She will also appear in Damien Chazelle's upcoming musical La La Land with her Crazy, Stupid, Love co-star Ryan Gosling and is in pre-production to star as tennis legend Billie Jean King in Fox Searchlight's Battle of the Sexes.

The de Vil project will be produced by Andrew Gunn and Aline Brosh McKenna. It's expected to be in production by the end of the year. At present no director has been announced.