What began with 2014’s Maleficent has spawned a bona fide new tradition for Disney. Not only has the Mouse House committed to the bit of reviving its every beloved animated film in live-action. (Or a live-action veneer, in the case of The Lion King.) The company is also retelling classic stories from the vantage points of their villains. They did it for Sleeping Beauty, with the aforementioned Angelina Jolie vehicle. This year sees the release of Cruella, which spotlights 101 Dalmatians’ bloodthirsty fashionista. And now, per a report from Deadline, a new film will re-center the Cinderella story around the titular workhorse’s evil stepsisters. Enticingly, Kristen Wiig and her writing partner Annie Mumolo will develop and star in the project.
Lionsgate
Wiig has of course been a recognizable face and name for ages. Near the end of her seven-year run on Saturday Night Live, she teamed up with Mumolo to write Bridesmaids. The film found quick success, both with a winning box office and an Oscar nomination for screenplay. Despite this, Wiig and Mumolo didn’t co-author another film until this year’s Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. The elated response to the screwball feature no doubt earned the duo consideration for the newly announced Disney project.
Given the parties in play, we can assume that Disney’s yet untitled Evil Stepsister film will veer comedic. Granted, Wiig has done her fair share of dramatic acting, and Mumolo has worked on scripts for films like Joy and Megan Leavey. But you don’t likely enlist this package if you’re not hoping to go a bit loony. Especially after the nutter-butter of a film that was Barb and Star. So, expect a good deal of comic villainy. (Which we’ll have to get used to, given the Gaston-and-LeFou-centric series also in the works for Disney+.)
