- Controversy Over Snow White Remake: Backlash and Online Controversy Surround Disney’s Upcoming Live-Action Adaptation
- New Direction and Casting: Rachel Zegler’s Casting and Remarks Ignite Debate About the Remake’s Themes and Changes
- Gender Roles and Societal Dynamics: Discussion Over Female Leadership, Romance, and Evolving Representations in Disney Films
Next year’s release of Disney’s live-action remake of the 1937 classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has sparked controversy on social media, following a series of Disney live-action remakes.
Some critics have been vociferous over the new Snow White (notice that the dwarfs have been gone).
In recent weeks, the online reemergence of interviews with Rachel Zegler, who portrays the new Snow White, has contributed to the escalation of the controversy, which has infuriated some TikTokers.
Before that, critics lash out when Disney stated in 2021 that the Latina actress would play the title role.
After facing discriminatory social media harassment, Zegler addressed the ugly disagreement on X (previously Twitter) last month.
“I am extremely grateful for the online support I’ve received, but please don’t include me in the nonsensical discussion about my casting. I genuinely do not wish to view it,” she wrote.
When Halle Bailey was cast as Ariel in The Little Mermaid, she was also subjected to similar harassment.
Surrey University media and communications lecturer Dr. Robi Muir describes racism as “extremely difficult to stomach.”
“I have no idea why people have such a problem with it. People of color did not view themselves as Disney princesses until 1992 when Jasmine from Aladdin was released.
Zegler’s remarks about the original Snow White and the new one have stirred some controversy.
Multiple interviews have resurfaced in the past few weeks. In one, Ziegler stated that she found the original film frightening and has only seen it once.
She added that the original is “extremely dated in terms of women in positions of power” and that the reimagined Snow White would become “a fantastic leader.”
Zegler has also indicated that the love story element will not be emphasized, joking that the prince was a “stalker.”
In an interview with Variety last year, the star of West Side Story stated, “We wrote a Snow White who will not be saved by the prince.”
Ziegler added, “She will not be rescued by the prince, nor will she be dreaming of true love.”
This has dissatisfied some admirers of the 1937 film.
Brittany Eldridge, commentary editor of the International Journal of Disney Studies, explains, “People are searching for that specific character in the live-action remake.”
“Disney did the same thing with Cinderella. Because Cinderella was nearly a copy-and-paste job, that’s what they’re searching for again.
“I believe it has a lot to do with nostalgia and the desire to relive the same experience you had when you first went through it.”
“However, the purpose of fairy tales is to adapt and evolve, and this is precisely what Disney is doing.”
While traditionalists may be dismayed by any apparent anti-Prince agenda. Some have taken issue with the notion that a female protagonist cannot be both a leader and a romantic interest.
According to IMDB, a prince does not even appear to have been recruited. Jonathan is portrayed by Andrew Burnsap, but little else is known about his character.
One TikTok user stated, “Women no longer have to choose between a career and love. We can have both,” citing superhero films in which males can have it all. “They get to save the day, have a successful career, and the girl, so why can’t we?”
Someone else posted, “Just because a woman values something differently does not diminish her value.”
Dr. Muir’s new book The Disney Princess: A Feminist Analysis claims love and feminism are compatible.
“However, there is not always required to be a connection. It is not the ultimate truth. Consider the number of war epics where none of the masculine protagonists have a romantic interest.”
She adds, about Zegler’s remarks, “To simply share your opinion on something and receive such a significant amount of backlash demonstrates the pervasive nature of sexism in Hollywood.”
Eldridge believes that the current polarised political climate in the United States is fueling these debates, particularly regarding Disney.
It comes as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is embroiled in a dispute with one of the state’s largest employers, Disney, over how sexuality and gender identity are taught in public schools.
“The anti-Disney movement is not widespread throughout the United States. These pockets are being broadcast on Fox News and garnering attention, says Eldridge.
The fate of the seven dwarfs is also the subject of debate following the appearance of unofficial images of seven “magical creatures” They appear to feature only one individual with dwarfism, which has caused division within the community.
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones’ protagonist, called a version with seven dwarfs “backward.” Disney subsequently stated that it would “avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film”
Dr. Erin Pritchard, senior lecturer in disability and education at Liverpool Hope University, exclaims, “I’m pleased that they’re now referred to as magical creatures’ rather than dwarfs. My research indicates that Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is responsible for a great deal of the discrimination dwarfs face in society.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was written by the Grimm brothers in the early nineteenth century.
Dr. Pritchard adds, “The portrayal of the dwarfs in the animated classic differs significantly from the Brothers Grimm version.” They are infantilized and constructed as amusing figures in the style of an oddity show.
“I do believe that actors with dwarfism should be given more positive real-life roles. Talented actors such as Peter Dinklage, Meredith Eaton, and Mark Povinelli are more than capable of portraying everyday roles.”
Others have disagreed with Dinklage, stating that it costs actors with dwarfism their employment. TikToker Lil Gabi D concurs, stating that although the original film did not have the greatest representation, “there were still little people in it” who could be made “multidimensional.”
Snow White won’t be released on the big screen until March of next year, and to be fair to Disney, we don’t know much about the plot beyond what the cast has said.
But it does not appear that Zegler will be holding out for her prince any time soon.
