Oscar winner Emma Stone (La La Land) has closed a deal to star in the sequel to Disney+ release Cruella. 

The move is significant since it comes amid the turmoil caused by Scarlett Johansson’s lawsuit against Disney over her compensation for Black Widow, which like Cruella, debuted day-and-date in theaters and on Disney+.

Johansson’s lawsuit alleges that her contract was breached when the Marvel movie was released on Disney+ day-and-date. After its filing, Disney retorted with a strong statement, calling the lawsuit “especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Major Hollywood figures and organizations weighed in, including CAA’s Bryan Lourd (“[Disney] have shamelessly and falsely accused Ms. Johansson of being insensitive to the global COVID pandemic”),

SAG President Gabrielle Carteris  wrote: “Disney should be ashamed of themselves for resorting to tired tactics of gender-shaming and bullying.

Women In Film, ReFrame and Time’s Up also offered a joint statement.

For the Cruella sequel, director Craig Gillespie and writer Tony McNamara are returning.

The 2021 feature acted as an 1980s punk-inspired origin story for the famed Disney villain from 101 Dalmatians.

Cruella debuted May 28 simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ under the streaming service’s Premier Access tier, making it available to purchase for $30.

To date, the film has earned $85 million at the domestic box office and $221 million at the global.