Way back in May, we found out that Hot Wheels would be doing a Cruella de Vil car. Since it was a generic placement image used for the 2018 Hot Wheels poster, it was easy to speculate which #TV/Movie Car Hot Wheels would use. I had a feeling it would be the car from the classic 101 Dalmatians (1961) movie, since we knew that Hot Wheels would be doing a #Pop Culture segment of classic #Disney animated films. However, what I really hoped for was the custom Zimmer Golden Spirit she drove in ABC’s TV Series, Once Upon a Time (2011-2018) since it is a real car. In the end, we did get the classic animated film version of #Cruella de Vil’s car, and as rough as the original car looked like in the film, this Hot Wheels casting looks quite the opposite: smooth, sleek and well-proportioned (for being an animated “cartoon” vehicle).

Hot Wheels Cruella de Vil from the 2018 HW Screen Time Series (both variants)

The Hot Wheels #Cruella de Vil made quite the entrance in 2018, with a series of firsts. It was the first time this casting was released, marking its #First Edition. Its Super Treasure Hunt ($TH) variant was the first time this casting was a #Treasure Hunt. AND, it is the first #Disney casting to infiltrate the Hot Wheels mainline.

I was fortunate to have found both the common, red variant and the Super #Treasure Hunt at my local Walmart back at the end of September. The red one is really a great release by itself as it more closely resembles the color of the car in the movie; BUT, its that $TH upgrade with the #Spectraflame Paint, #Real Riders and added detail that really is something to behold. I can imagine its hard to come up a place to stick that famous “TH” on a licensed #TV & Movie Car such as this one, but whoever the graphic designer was, found the perfect place: on the spare tire cover, on the rear of the car (photo below).

Hot Wheels Cruella de Vil from the 2018 HW Screen Time Series (package view)

Hot Wheels Cruella de Vil from the 2018 HW Screen Time Series (super treasure hunt, rear “TH” view)

Hot Wheels Cruella de Vil from the 2018 HW Screen Time Series (head-to-head)

Hot Wheels Cruella de Vil from the 2018 HW Screen Time Series (rear view)

Hot Wheels Cruella de Vil from the 2018 HW Screen Time Series (both variants on orange track)

Oddly enough, Hot Wheels produced the 2018 Pop Culture / Disney series release of the Ford Transit Supervan, a couple months earlier. On the right side of the van, the graphic shows the dalmatians (from the 1961 movie) on high alert, in anticipation of something… clearly they knew that #Cruella de Vil was coming to the Hot Wheels mainline.

Hot Wheels Cruella de Vil from the 2018 HW Screen Time Series (super treasure hunt) with Ford Transit Supervan from the 2018 Pop Culture / Disney series

The Super #Treasure Hunt of the #HW Screen Time #Cruella de Vil does have a very devilish look to it — perfect for a villain like Cruella. Had those artists at Disney seen the $TH before they came up with the concept, I’m sure they wouldn’t have hesitated to use the darker red color in oppose to the bright red car in 101 Dalmatians (1961). The fact that this release was so “sinister”, prompted me to bring out another one of my favorite “sinister” cars: the 2007 Fright cars ’35 Classic Caddy — just for show!

Hot Wheels Cruella de Vil from the 2018 HW Screen Time Series (super treasure hunt) with 2007 Fright Cars Classic Caddy

It will be interesting to see how Hot Wheels uses the #Cruella de Vil casting from here. With the movie being over 50 years old, I feel like Disney may allow for some variants outside of the standard red…

RELEASE DETAILS: Red Body (metal). Chrome Windows. Black Interior/Fenders. Gray Base (plastic). Made in Malaysia. Toy# FJW04. Released in 2018 as #9 of 10 in the HW Screen Time series (#343/365 in the 2018 mainline).

I mean, Disney already allowed for a Super #Treasure Hunt of the #Cruella de Vil to be made, whats next?

In the books, and in the live-action 101 Dalmatians (1996), along with its appearance in Once Upon a Time (2011-2018), Cruella’s car was black and white. Each instance had its own car and design, but I don’t think it would be too far fetched to expect to see something that resembles those designs on the Hot Wheels #Cruella de Vil in the near future. Either way, the Cruella de Vil casting made quite the debut in 2018. Whats to become of it will be determined at Mattel (and through Disney licensing), but its going to be hard to top this Super #Treasure Hunt release of it!

RELEASE DETAILS: Spectraflame Dark Red Body (metal). Chrome Windows. Black Interior/Fenders. Gray Base (plastic). Made in Malaysia. Toy# FKB43. Released in 2018 as #9 of 10 in the HW Screen Time series (Unnumbered in the 2018 mainline).