Oh boy movie fans get ready to dive into some serious Disney drama . The live-action Snow White movie is almost here hitting theaters in March 2025. But it's not exactly been a smooth journey to the big screen. From casting choices to comments from the stars this movie has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Let's unpack the whole story shall we?
Snow White's Scaled-Back Premiere: Is Disney Trying to Avoid the "Woke" Backlash?
So here is the tea the premiere for Snow White is going to be… different. Disney usually goes all out for these big live-action remakes red carpets galore flashing lights the whole shebang. But for Snow White? Word is they are keeping it super low-key. No huge media frenzy no tons of journalists just a quiet pre-show thing and a red carpet mostly for photos.
Why the hush-hush approach? Well many think it is because Disney is trying to dodge the "anti-woke" storm that has been brewing around this movie for ages. Ever since folks heard about the changes they were making to the classic story things have been… spicy online.
From Dwarfs to Feminism and Political Takes: The Controversies Surrounding Disney's Snow White Remake Explained
What exactly is all the fuss about? Buckle up because there's a lot. First off there was the casting of Rachel Zegler a Latina actress as Snow White. Some people got upset because in the original fairytale Snow White is described as having "skin as white as snow". Zegler defended her casting saying Snow White is popular in Spanish-speaking countries and she is proud to represent her heritage. She even joked the "Snow White" name will be explained by her surviving a snowstorm as a kid. Hmm okay.
Then came the Seven Dwarfs. Disney initially seemed to ditch the dwarves altogether after Peter Dinklage who has dwarfism criticized the depiction. He thought it was backwards to be progressive with Snow White's casting but still tell a story about "seven dwarfs living in a cave". Disney responded saying they were consulting with the dwarfism community and would take a "different approach". Later leaked images showed a mix of actors of different heights and races alongside one actor with dwarfism. This move also got flak some saying it was "racialized" and others arguing it took away jobs from dwarf actors.
And it doesn't stop there. Zegler's comments about making Snow White more "feminist" also stirred the pot. She said Snow White would not be dreaming about true love or being saved by a prince but about becoming a leader. This rubbed some people the wrong way who felt she was dissing the original movie. Zegler later clarified that love is still "very integral" to the story and maybe her jokes did not land as intended.
Lastly the political views of the stars added fuel to the fire. Zegler has been critical of Donald Trump and his supporters and Gal Gadot who plays the Evil Queen is a vocal supporter of Israel. This difference in views led to calls for boycotts from both sides of the political spectrum. Phew that's a lot right?
Box Office Predictions: Will Controversy Hurt or Help Snow White's Performance?
With all this drama surrounding Snow White the big question is: will it bomb at the box office or will people be curious enough to see it? Early box office projections are… well they are okay. Some predict an opening weekend around $50-$56 million domestically. That would be decent for March but not exactly blockbuster numbers.
Some industry folks are less optimistic pointing out Disney's quiet marketing and late ticket sales as signs they might be nervous. One source even said Disney is just "going through the motions" and wants to "get this thing over with". Ouch. Others think the controversy might actually boost curiosity. After all sometimes bad buzz can be good buzz in a weird way. We will have to wait and see if Snow White can pull a fairytale ending at the Box Office or if all the drama will cast a shadow over its success.
Disney's Balancing Act: Trying to Update a Classic in a "Woke" World - Did They Go Too Far?
Ultimately Disney's Snow White is a case study in the tricky business of remaking beloved classics for a modern audience. They tried to update the story to be more progressive more feminist and more diverse. But in doing so they seem to have alienated some of the original fans while maybe not fully satisfying newer audiences either. It is a tough balancing act and it looks like Snow White might just be stumbling. Whether it is a creative triumph or a cautionary tale remains to be seen but one thing is for sure: this Snow White is definitely not your grandma's fairytale.
Snow White Controversy Checklist: Key Points of Drama
- Casting of Rachel Zegler: Backlash over a Latina actress playing Snow White who is traditionally depicted as white.
- Depiction of the Seven Dwarfs: Criticism for not using actors with dwarfism and perceived "woke" redesign of the characters.
- Feminist Reinterpretation: Controversy over Snow White not focusing on romance or being saved by a prince.
- Political Statements: Backlash against Rachel Zegler's anti-Trump comments and Gal Gadot's pro-Israel stance.
- Scaled-Back Premiere: Reduced media presence at premiere fueling speculation of damage control.
- Box Office Uncertainty: Moderate projections raising questions about financial success amidst controversies.