With the announcement of the Snow White remake in 2024, there has been a great deal of backlash regarding the interviews with main star Rachel Zegler, her race, and the plot being altered.
Shown in clips from Variety, Zegler states, “It’s not 1937 anymore” and “She is not gonna be saved by the prince”. This caused controversy from critics and fans concerned with the movie’s release and how it will uphold the original story. The main star believes the movie should inspire girls to realize they can do anything without needing to be saved by a prince. However, while this is a valid feeling and critique by Zegler, it is not what traditional Snow White fans want for the movie. Many have stated that it takes away from the original magic of the story. Zegler is a young actress who has recently begun to land more prominent roles. Her media training may not meet the expectations for Disney actors.
Additionally, some people have complained about her race and if it’s appropriate for the role. Rachel Zegler is of Columbian and Polish descent. There has been criticism regarding Snow White’s association with her skin color. Snow White is described as having “skin as white as snow”, hence the name. The actor addressed the criticism, explaining that Snow White is highly regarded in Spanish-speaking countries
The seven dwarfs play an essential role in the original Snow White movie. The live-action version of the film released an image featuring Snow White and the dwarfs, which were created using CGI. The trailer also includes a large amount of CGI to make the scenes come to life. The effects do not look realistic and make the movie appear rushed. Furthermore, many fans were upset because Disney missed the opportunity to hire people of short stature. Wee Man, a stunt performer with dwarfism, addressed TMZ, stating that Disney needs to redo the movie and hire actors with dwarfism.
The release date was originally set for 2024 but has now been postponed to March 2025. Disney claimed it was due to the American actors’ union protests during July-November of 2023.
Numerous controversies have surrounded the release of this movie, potentially affecting its success. Fans may choose not to watch in theatres because of the story change or things the actors have addressed.