Hold up movie fans there's some serious drama brewing around Disney's upcoming live-action "Snow White" remake. It seems like things are getting so frosty that Disney might be pulling out all the stops to manage some major pre-release chill. Word on the street is the UK premiere is off and it is all thanks to what some are calling an "anti-woke" uproar. Let's dive into what's going on with this fairy tale flick and why it's causing such a stir.
UK Premiere Poof Gone? Disney Reportedly Skips London Event Amidst Snow White Controversy
So here is the scoop according to the Daily Mail and other sources Disney has reportedly decided to ditch the grand UK premiere for "Snow White". Instead of a star-studded red carpet event in London it sounds like they are opting for a much smaller scale approach. Why the sudden change of plans for a movie filmed in London with a hefty budget? Insiders are whispering it's all about damage control.
The buzz is Disney is bracing for some serious "anti-woke" heat. Apparently they are worried about negative reactions to the movie and are trying to keep things tightly controlled. One source said Disney is "anticipating an anti-woke backlash against Snow White and have reduced the media schedule to just a handful of tightly controlled press events." This means fewer press questions for star Rachel Zegler and a much smaller promotional footprint especially in the UK.
Metro UK even reported that there won't be a traditional interview junket in the UK at all. Instead press opportunities are going to be super limited and part of a European-wide event happening somewhere else. It's definitely not your typical rollout for a big Disney movie and it screams "we are trying to avoid a PR nightmare".
Rachel Zegler Casting and "Dated" Remarks Spark Fan Fury: Why is Snow White Generating Hate?
What exactly is fueling this potential "anti-woke" fire? Well a lot of it seems to center around the casting of Rachel Zegler as Snow White. When Disney announced a Latina actress would be playing the iconic princess back in 2021 some corners of the internet were not happy. Detractors complained that Snow White should be Caucasian because that's how she is traditionally depicted. They accused Disney of being too "woke" for casting Zegler.
Then there were Zegler's own comments about the original 1937 animated "Snow White" movie. In a 2022 interview she called it "dated" and even suggested Snow White's Prince Charming was kind of a stalker and the whole thing was "weird". These comments did not go down well with some fans who felt she was disrespecting a beloved classic. While Zegler has said her words were misconstrued and that she is proud to be a Latina Snow White the initial negative impression seems to have stuck.
Adding to the mix are other changes to the remake. The title is just "Snow White" no "Seven Dwarfs" and the dwarfs themselves are reportedly being portrayed with CGI which has also drawn criticism. Some feel Disney is erasing the roles of dwarf actors and changing too much from the original story.
"Complete Nonsense" or Valid Concerns? Debating the Snow White "Woke" Label
The whole "woke" debate around "Snow White" is definitely sparking some heated discussions. Some like GB News commentator Jonathan Lis are calling the backlash "complete nonsense". He argues that casting a Latina actress as Snow White isn't some radical "woke" move and that people are just getting "permanently furious about literally everything".
However others feel there are legitimate reasons to be critical. Some argue it's not about being "anti-woke" but about staying true to the source material and honoring the original character's heritage. They feel Disney is making changes purely for diversity points without considering the story or the impact on representation of certain groups like little people in the case of the dwarfs.
The Korean news outlet Maeil Business Newspaper even pointed out that Snow White literally means "snow-white skin" in German and questioned if casting a "dark-skinned Latino actor" was an "excessive adaptation". They noted that some fans are even mockingly calling it "Black Snow White".
Whatever side you are on it's clear "Snow White" has become a lightning rod in the ongoing culture wars. And Disney seems to be feeling the pressure trying to navigate a very tricky PR situation as the movie's release date approaches.
Box Office Forecast and Damage Control: Will "Snow White" Still Shine or Will Backlash Cloud its Fate?
With all this controversy swirling around what about the movie itself? The first trailer for "Snow White" got a mixed reception and box office predictions have been a bit all over the place. Some projections are still optimistic suggesting a solid opening weekend but others are less certain.
Cosmic Book News even suggests Disney is putting Rachel Zegler "on a leash" limiting her press access to avoid any more PR missteps. They claim the canceled UK premiere and tightly controlled press events are all about keeping Zegler from saying anything else that could fuel the backlash fire.
Disney spent a reported $250 million to produce "Snow White" so they are definitely hoping for a big box office return. Whether the "anti-woke" sentiments and negative buzz will impact its success remains to be seen. One thing is for sure this "Snow White" remake is already a fairy tale with a very modern and very messy twist.
Snow White Controversy: Key Points of Fan Uproar
- Rachel Zegler Casting: Backlash over casting a Latina actress as Snow White with some arguing it's not true to the original character.
- "Woke" Accusations: Critics labeling Disney as "woke" for diverse casting and perceived changes to the story.
- Zegler's "Dated" Comments: Controversy over Rachel Zegler calling the original movie "dated" and criticizing Prince Charming.
- CGI Dwarfs and Title Change: Criticism for removing "Seven Dwarfs" from the title and using CGI for the dwarf characters.
- UK Premiere Cancellation: Reportedly canceled UK premiere fueling speculation of Disney fearing backlash and limiting press.
- Box Office Uncertainty: Mixed reactions to trailers and uncertain box office projections amid the controversy.