Why ‘Cruella’ Is Being Hailed As ‘Disney’s Joker’

Disney has released the trailer for its “Cruella” live-action film starring Emma Stone and social media is now calling her “Disney’s Joker” after watching it.

The film follows a young Cruella de Vil (Stone) from "101 Dalmatians" fame set in 1970s London. It focuses on how she got into the world of fashion design and her rise to becoming the villain she is today.

Brilliant. Bad. A little bit mad. May 2021. pic.twitter.com/K9pKz4pVng
— Cruella (@cruella) February 17, 2021

When the trailer dropped, just a day after the poster, many viewers shared their opinions on whether they were into it or not, as well as finding uncanny resemblances between Cruella and DC Comics' Joker. On Twitter, the phrase "Disney's Joker" trended Wednesday in connection to the footage.

Everything from their physical transformations, their rise to evil, some madness in the way they think and speak, as well as both being period pieces, there are many similarities between "Cruella" and 2019's "Joker," Thrillist reported.

I can't explain it but this is gonna be disney's Joker. pic.twitter.com/UkZxKqdFbu
— Damo (@Fantastic4Shill) February 17, 2021

Coldest take ever, but Cruella is *definitely* Disney’s Joker, but with shallow corporate feminist overtones. That being said...kinda into it? If nothing else, I’ve never wanted Emma Stone to step on me more??
— The Pancake Ape (@Numbuh1NerdX) February 17, 2021

Even Perez Hilton is into it.

#Disney's Joker! Meets FASHION! And I'm here for it! U? #Cruella #EmmaStone pic.twitter.com/ubRSmW8jiM
— Perez (@ThePerezHilton) February 17, 2021

Along with the Joker comparison, Disney fans on Twitter have been comparing Stone's Cruella to “Maleficent,” another villain-focused Disney movie. Maleficent's 2014 film made her out to be misunderstood and tried to get viewers to sympathize with her throughout the entirety of her story.

Twitter users have already stated that they hope the same plot isn’t used to justify Cruella becoming a puppy murderer for the sake of fashion.

I swear to god you pull a Maleficent and try to make this character, a character whose MAIN TRAIT is wanting to kill and skin puppies, into a "sympathetic villain", I'm gonna be so mad. This has the opportunity to be a fun villainy crime film. Don't ruin it. https://t.co/LEuJbwZeqe
— Pixie, Queen of Monsters (@QueenKaijuPixel) February 17, 2021

DISNEY EXEC #1: Our live action remakes have been performing well and Maleficent has proven there's an audience for rehabilitating a female villain!
DISNEY EXEC #2: Great, so which villain are we going to do next?
DISNEY EXEC #1: The dog murderer.
— howdily doodily neighborino its me alk alters (@AltersAlk) February 17, 2021