The uproar surrounding the upcoming live-action version of Snow White is so intense that it seems like one might be tempted to take a bite from a tainted apple. With Disney’s film embroiled in numerous controversies, the premiere on March 15 will be toned down and exclude media personnel from the red carpet. Controversies range from accusations of racism towards the Latina lead actress, Rachel Zegler, to debates over how the seven dwarfs are being portrayed, as well as Gal Gadot’s pro-Israel stance. After the controversies in West Side Story and Shazam, Zegler and her bob (short hairdo) might be hoping for a movie with controversy-free co-stars. Below is a comprehensive timeline detailing the various disputes that have arisen during the film’s development, production, and release.
In October 2016, it was announced by The Hollywood Reporter that there were plans underway for a modern retelling of the 1937 classic movie “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. Erin Cressida Wilson was in discussions about writing the script, while Benj Pasek and Justin Paul were set to compose new music. Marc Platt, known for producing hits like “Wicked” and “La La Land”, was also involved in the production of this remake.
In June 2021, Rachel Zegler was announced to play Snow White. However, this casting decision faced criticism from some Disney fans and right-wing figures due to Zegler being Latina, which they felt did not align with the character’s traditional portrayal as “the fairest of them all.” This backlash mirrored the hostility directed towards Halle Bailey when she was cast in 2023’s The Little Mermaid, as well as the boycotts that followed the hint of a same-sex moment in the 2017 film Beauty and the Beast.
November 4, 2021: Gal Gadot is cast as the Evil Queen, despite her work in Red Notice.
On the Marc Maron’s WTF podcast, Peter Dinklage expressed his criticism towards an upcoming film. He referred to it as a “reversed narrative” due to its portrayal of seven dwarfs. Dinklage stated that there is a contradiction in casting a Latina actress as Snow White while still telling the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. He urged people to reconsider their actions, finding it illogical. Dinklage questioned the studio’s approach, expressing his frustration that despite his efforts to advance progress, he is not heard loud enough. Dinklage will star alongside Zegler in 2023’s The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.
On January 25, 2022, Disney addressed Dinkalge’s remarks through a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. They explained that they are altering their approach for seven characters from the original animated movie to prevent perpetuating stereotypes. They have been working with members of the dwarfism community in this process. Excited about the film’s progress, they look forward to revealing more details as it moves into production following a prolonged development phase.
On January 28, 2022: After Dinklage’s remarks and Disney’s response, other actors with dwarfism voiced their disagreement. Dylan Postl, known for his role as Hornswoggle in the WWE, expressed his view to the Daily Mail, stating, “This isn’t beneficial for our community; it’s taking away jobs that are already scarce within our community.” Katrina Kemp, an actress from Netflix’s GLOW, also shared her thoughts, saying, “It’s a lost chance to create a movie with seven main characters who are little people. There were certainly individuals ready and willing to fill those roles.
January 31, 2022: In her conversation with Andrew Garfield for Variety’s “Actors on Actors”, Zegler discusses her casting. She expresses surprise at the prospect, stating, “I never thought this could be a possibility for me.” She continues, “Snow White isn’t typically portrayed by actors of Latin descent. However, Snow White is highly revered in Spanish-speaking countries, where Blanca Nieves is a significant icon, whether referring to the Disney animation or various adaptations and Grimm’s fairy tale versions. Yet, it’s not common to see individuals resembling me or myself taking on such roles. The announcement caused quite a stir on Twitter for several days as people expressed their anger.
On September 11, 2022, during an interview with Extra at the D23 Expo, Zegler discussed how the upcoming film will depart from the original 1937 cartoon. She explained that there would be a shift in focus from the questionable love story between Snow White and her stalker-like suitor, stating, “We didn’t do that this time.” Instead, she revealed that the movie focuses on Snow White’s personal journey to discover herself, with Andrew Burnap’s character serving as one of many characters who aid her in this remarkable adventure. Unfortunately, these comments were seized upon by some conservative critics to fuel backlash against both the film and Zegler’s casting.
On July 14, 2023, photographs supposedly taken on set were published in the Daily Mail, which seem to depict a single actor with dwarfism playing all seven dwarfs, while six other actors, of diverse genders and races who are not little people, can be seen in the background. These images have sparked further controversy surrounding the film, despite initial denials from Disney. Subsequently, Disney acknowledged that these photos were taken on their set, but clarified they were stand-ins and not official shots.
On July 15, 2023, Rachel Zegler reiterates her sentiments in a tweet: “I’m deeply touched by the support I receive online, but kindly ask that you don’t involve me in the unreasonable discussions about my casting. Frankly, I’d rather not see it. Here are some pictures for you instead! I wish every child to understand they can be a princess, regardless of the circumstances.” In the accompanying images, Zegler, as a young girl, is seen dressed as various Disney princesses, including Snow White.
On October 27, 2023, amid the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, Disney decides to postpone the release of their film from March 2024 to March 2025. However, they share a sneak peek image that unveils the dwarfs in the movie will be depicted as Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) characters instead.
August 10, 2024: On this day, I witnessed an uproar following the unveiling of the film’s first teaser trailer. The reason? My fellow film enthusiasts were demanding a boycott, due to Gal Gadot’s open advocacy for Israel. Born and raised in Israel, Gal served honorably in the IDF for two years, and has been a steadfast voice in support of her country, particularly during the tragic events in Gaza that have been labeled as genocide.
On August 12, 2024: Contrarily, Zegler, who has openly supported Palestine since 2021, expresses gratitude to her followers and notes, “Always keep in mind, let Palestine be free.
On October 2, 2024, in an interview with Variety, Zegler discusses the origins of the new film’s title for Snow White. Instead of being a reference to her skin being “as white as snow,” it is connected to another version of Snow White from history where she survived a snowstorm during infancy. The king and queen chose to name her Snow White to commemorate her resilience.
On November 14, 2024, finding myself disheartened by Donald Trump’s re-election, I shared my feelings on Instagram, advocating for marginalized communities and expressing a hope that peace might elude those who supported, voted for, or were the president himself. My sentiment, though restrained, sparked criticism from figures like Megyn Kelly, who fueled right-wing fury over my film. Later, I acknowledged that my emotions had clouded my judgment, and apologized sincerely for any offense caused.
On February 21, 2025, Disney shares that Andrew Barth Feldman will play Dopey, Tituss Burgess Bashful, George Salazar Happy, Jason Kravits Sneezy, Andy Grotelueschen Sleepy, and Jeremy Swift Doc in their CGI seven dwarfs. Martin Klebba, who has dwarfism, was already announced to play Grumpy.)
On March 11, 2025: According to Variety, Disney is planning to downsize the LA premiere of the movie scheduled for March 15. The company won’t be extending invitations to journalists on the red carpet. Instead, only photographers and those conducting interviews indoors will be present at the event.
On March 12, 2025, as a passionate film enthusiast, I find myself expressing my dismay to the New York Post over the downscaled premiere of an upcoming movie. I’m not upset with Disney; instead, I’m let down by the world itself.
March 21, 2025: Snow White premieres. Surely, it will be the end of the discourse, right?
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2025-03-14 22:56