Mark Strong says he had a 'great time' working on 'Cruella'

Actor Mark Strong says he enjoyed working on "Cruella", Disney's upcoming live-action film based on "101 Dalmatians" villain Cruella de Vil.

film, starring Emma Stone in lead, is helmed by "I, Tonya" director Craig Gillespie. It also stars Emma Thompson. Strong, 57, who plays role of Boris in movie, said he has always been a fan of Gillespie's work.

"I had a great time. Craig Gillespie, who directed it, I was a big fan of. I loved 'I, Tonya' and I loved 'Lars and Real Girl', films he made before I got to kw him. Just liking stuff he'd made meant that we wanted to work toger, and he asked me to play this part in 'Cruella'," actor said in an interview with Collider. Strong said he had a fantastic time working with actors like Stone and Thompson.

"I got to be on set during those days and spend most of my time with two Emmas - Emma Stone and Emma Thompson. It was just great being able to shoot breeze with those guys during downtime, and n play with m, telling this fantastical story that I think people are thoroughly going to enjoy, when cameras were rolling."

Stone will play infamous villain in what is being billed as an origin story, set in early 1980s with a punk vibe. Hollywood veteran Glenn Close famously portrayed role of maniacal, torious, fur-loving dog-hating head of a fashion house who would go to any lengths to get hold of more and more Dalmatian fur in live action "101 Dalmatians" (1996) and "102 Dalmatians" (2000). "Cruella" also stars Paul Walter Hauser and Joel Fry.

(Photo Credit: Instagram/mrmarkstrong)