Embarking on her cinematic journey with notable films like "Zombieland" and "Easy A," and subsequently gracing the silver screen as Gwen Stacey in "The Amazing Spider-Man," Emma Stone seemed poised to cement her status as a leading lady in comedies and blockbusters. However, two decades into her storied career, she has transformed into a double Academy Award winner and a beloved icon of quirky independent cinema. Most notably, she has emerged as the muse and frequent collaborator of Greek weird wave director Yorgos Lanthimos, featuring in three of his films, with a fourth set to release in 2025.
Prior to her arthouse acclaim, Stone was on a trajectory towards being typecast, often portraying slightly varied versions of her signature "teary cry-smile" character. Unsurprisingly, Hollywood franchises knocked on her door early on. The year she starred as Peter Parker's love interest Gwen was also the year Paul Feig approached her to star in his all-female reboot of "Ghostbusters." Ultimately, the quirky comediennes Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones, and Kate McKinnon took center stage instead. Intriguingly, this pivotal moment marked a turning point in Stone's career.
The decision to reboot the beloved franchise, originally helmed by Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson, was met with controversy. Murray's refusal to return and the untimely passing of Ramis prompted Sony Pictures to forgo a sequel. The announcement of an all-female cast ignited outrage among long-time fans. The trailer became one of the most polarizing YouTube videos, garnering over a million dislikes compared to 280,000 likes. While some attributed this to a lack of interest in reboots, nostalgia for the originals, and humorlessness in the trailer, it was undeniably fueled by ingrained misogyny and the tired trope that women aren't funny.
Despite this uproar, Stone's decision remained unaffected. She told the Wall Street Journal, "The script was genuinely humorous. It just didn't feel like the right time for me. A franchise is a significant commitment—a whole endeavor. I believed I needed a break before diving back into those waters." By this stage in her career, she had begun leaning towards more distinctive and independent roles. In the same year as "The Amazing Spider-Man 2," she also starred in Alejandro Iñárritu's critically acclaimed "Birdman." And when "Ghostbusters" released, Stone was captivating audiences in "La La Land," a role that arguably made her career, although she personally considers "Battle of the Sexes" her career-defining performance. She went on to win the Oscar for Best Actress for her musical portrayal, while also gracing the Broadway stage in "Cabaret."
The "Ghostbusters" offer came at a juncture in Stone's career when she had the luxury of choosing her roles rather than accepting whatever was offered. Presented with two paths, she took the less traveled road. Just two years after "Ghostbusters," she starred in her first Lanthimos film, "The Favourite." Seven years later, she has solidified her status as an indie "It Girl." While "Spider-Man" wasn't her final foray into franchises, in 2021, she portrayed Cruella de Vil in Disney's live-action origin story of the iconic "101 Dalmatians" villain. This marked her return to the franchise world, but in a manner that aligned with her career aspirations. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, she expressed excitement about playing "someone crazy or dangerous, something she could really let loose with—perhaps even a villain." Lo and behold, "Cruella" ticked all the boxes... though we eagerly await the highly anticipated sequel.
