Disney’s live-action “Snow White” is stirring up controversy before it even hits theatres. From casting choices and CGI overload to a “woke” reimagining of the classic tale, this remake faces an uphill battle to win over audiences. Can a fresh take on the story overcome the backlash, or will it be poisoned by its own ambition?
Disney has unveiled the official trailer for its live-action remake of the 1937 animated classic Snow White with Rachel Zegler in the title role. Now, let me tell you that I am a huge Disney fan and have a deep appreciation for all things Disney. However, it seems that the story of Snow White that we all grew to appreciate has changed in many ways, including the renaming from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” to just “Snow White”.
While Snow White may not be the most controversial film ever, the live-action remake has been making headlines since it was first announced in 2016. Some of the reasons for the controversy have been due to casting selection, the portrayal of Dwarfs, CGI Visuals and the interpretation of the remake. There is a feeling that Disney is overly focused on updating the story to align with modern sensibilities around gender and female empowerment. Which would be great if this was a stand alone movie focused on these issues. I for one am all for woman empowerment, I just don’t believe using past animations for this purpose is the way. Disney, once a pioneer, now seems trapped in a cycle of revisiting its past glories instead of creating new ones. I personally think that animation offers a level of style for a visual medium that has such a farther ceiling than live action.
Appearing on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast, Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage dismissed Disney’s remake as a “backwards story,” stating that he “was a little taken aback when [Disney] were very proud to cast a Latina actress as Snow White, but you are still telling the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”
While Disney could argue it’s a step towards diversity, it clearly does stray from the original fairy tale.
The 91 year old David Hand, the son of the original 1937 Snow White director, who previously worked as a designer for Disney, told The Telegraph that Walt Disney himself would not agree with the changes being made to the original story. “They change the stories, they change the thought processes of the characters, they just aren’t the original stories anymore. They’re making up new woke things and I’m just not into any of that,” Hand said.
When it comes to Disney’s recent remakes, the term “live-action” can be debated, as most of these movies have heavy CGI work. This is especially true for the animals and scenery, which some find distracting and unrealistic. They feel this overuse of CGI makes the movie look less like a live-action remake and more like an animated film, which takes away from the intended experience.
After all being said and done, despite all the controversy the new Snow White movie can still be a hit. Its success may hinge on a strong story that blends classic elements with fresh ideas, perhaps even drawing from the original fairy tale. These changes could revitalise the story, fixing outdated aspects and giving it a modern feel.
The trailer showcases Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, and the vocal talents of Zegler, who sings the powerful ballad “Waiting on a Wish”. Also featured are the seven dwarfs, Grumpy, Sneezy, Dopey,
Sleepy, Happy, Bashful and Doc. In the trailer, Snow White tells the Evil Queen “the people need some kindness,” and the wicked queen, who is her stepmother promises “to be the fairest of them all,” but the queen’s evil intent forces Snow White to flee into the woods to escape her. But lo and behold, Snow White faces the Evil Queen disguised as an old woman, offering her that fateful poisoned apple.
The movie is directed by Marc Webb (The Amazing Spider-Man) from a script byGreta Gerwig (Barbie) and Erin Cressida Wilson (The Girl on the Train), with Marc Platt as the producer. Tony winner Andrew Burnap is portraying Jonathan, a new male lead character.
Snow White hits theatres on March 21, 2025.
