Close crashed Disney’s D23 announcement of new Villains Land theme park details in character as her beloved “101 Dalmatians” villainess.

Glenn Close’s surprise return as Cruella De Vil included 1 key mistake: ‘If only we’d thought’

Close crashed Disney’s D23 announcement of new Villains Land theme park details in character as her beloved “101 Dalmatians” villainess.

Joey Nolfi

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August 21, 2026 1:40 p.m. ET

Glenn Close as Cruella De Vil. Credit:

Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty; Everett

- Glenn Close surprised D23 attendees when she hit the stage in character as her beloved *101 Dalmatians* villain, Cruella De Vil.

- Close later said online that the look included one key mistake that was inconsistent with the animated character’s design.

- “If only we’d thought,” Close began on Instagram after the event, which she crashed as part of an announcement of new details regarding Disney World’s Villains Land expansion.

Glenn Close made D23 audiences bark with glee upon her surprise reprisal of *101 Dalmatians* villainess Cruella De Vil on stage at the Disney convention, but the Hollywood icon has revealed one key mistake she missed in bringing the character back in 2026.

Nearly one week after the 79-year-old took the stage at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., while dressed in an ensemble that closely resembled one worn by the *101 Dalmatians* animated character she later brought to life in the 1996 live-action adaptation, Close revealed on Instagram that the look failed to include an aesthetic detail.

“If only we’d thought to have GREEN eyelids!” Close said in the post, which included a side-by-side photo showing herself on stage as Cruella next to a still from the animated franchise.

True to Close’s words, she appeared at D23 with red eyeshadow instead of Cruella’s signature green shade, though the actress still celebrated the live cameo happening in the first place.

“Thank you @curtiswilliam for my wig. @vivianbaker for my makeup and the Disney archival team for the iconic coat and hat,” Close said, referencing the look as an authentic piece of vintage costuming from the studio’s back stock.

She added, “And thank you D23 for your invitation to participate. Most of all thank you to all those who grew up being scared by CRUELLA! Hahahaha!”

Close was on hand at D23 to help Disney’s parks division announce new details for its highly anticipated Villains Land expansion, which is set to feature at least 13 classic villains in a storyline involving a mysterious wishing well that courts the iconic baddies to its borders in pursuit of harnessing its dark powers.

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After Disney revealed that *Sleeping Beauty*’s Maleficent and *Snow White’*s Magic Mirror would receive rides centered around them, Close walked out from backstage to speak justice to Cruella’s legacy.

“Introduce me, you morons!” Close, in character, shouted to the parks presentation’s host, Neil Patrick Harris, before turning around to reveal herself as one of the night’s special guests.

“When I heard that that overstuffed purple handbag was getting her own ride, I thought to myself, surely that can’t be,” Close said about the Maleficent roller coaster heading to Villains Land. “I mean, dragon skin? Heavens no! Leather is just so passé. There isn’t a woman in all this wretched world who wouldn’t rather have fur, darling!”

Glenn Close as Cruella de Vil at D23.

Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty

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Close first stepped into Cruella’s high heels in Disney’s 1996 hit* 101 Dalmatians*, a blockbuster family film that went on to earn over $320 million at the box office.

She again played the part in the 2000 sequel, *102 Dalmatians*, and teamed with Disney to produce Emma Stone’s turn as the character in 2021’s reboot *Cruella*.

While promoting that film, Close told *Variety* that she wants to play the part again in the future: “I have a great story to make another *Cruella* with my Cruella,” Close told the outlet of the story, which would follow her as “Cruella comes to New York and disappears down the sewers.”

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