Mirror Mirror on the Wall Is This New Snow White Movie a Hit or a Miss After All?

Disney's taking us back to the enchanted forest with a brand-new live-action Snow White movie. You know the story the princess the evil queen the dwarves. But this is not your grandma's fairytale. This Snow White is aiming for a modern twist and it's already stirred up a whole cauldron of chatter. Let's dive into the magic the mayhem and everything in between.

Meet the Modernized Snow White Crew: From Rachel Zegler to Gal Gadot's Evil Queen

First up the cast is looking pretty interesting. Rachel Zegler who wowed everyone in West Side Story is Snow White herself. Then we have Gal Gadot trading in her Wonder Woman lasso for an Evil Queen crown. Talk about casting switch-up! Patrick Page voices the Magic Mirror Andrew Burnap plays Jonathan the prince and Ansu Kabia is the Huntsman.

And of course it wouldn't be Snow White without the seven dwarves. This time around we have Tituss Burgess as Bashful Jeremy Swift as Doc Jason Kravits as Sneezy Martin Klebba as Grumpy Andrew Barth Feldman as Dopey Andy Grotelueschen as Sleepy and George Salazar as Happy. Quite a lineup right?

Controversy Brews: Casting Choices and Modern Twists Spark Debate

Now let's talk about the drama because this movie has had its share. Casting Rachel Zegler who is of Colombian and Polish descent as Snow White led to some... heated discussions online. Some folks got hung up on the "fairest of them all" needing "skin as white as snow" from the original fairytale. Zegler addressed this saying their Snow White's name actually comes from surviving a snowstorm as a baby making it more about resilience than skin tone.

Zegler also ruffled feathers when she said the original 1937 cartoon was a bit "outdated" especially the love story with a prince who "stalks" Snow White. She clarified that this version focuses more on Snow White's journey of self-discovery and meeting different people along the way not just waiting for a prince.

Then there was the whole dwarves situation. Peter Dinklage called out Disney for potentially perpetuating stereotypes. Disney responded saying they were taking a "different approach" and consulting with the dwarfism community. In the end the dwarves are CGI which actor Martin Klebba who plays Grumpy actually defended. He said it makes sense creatively and finding seven little people actors for the roles would be tough too.

Box Office Predictions: Will Snow White Charm Audiences or Fall Flat?

With all the buzz both good and bad how is Snow White expected to do at the box office ? Early predictions are... well a bit mixed. Some projections put its opening around the mid-$40 million range. That's similar to Disney's Dumbo remake which wasn't exactly a blockbuster.

Some analysts point out that interest in Snow White seems lower than it was for The Little Mermaid remake especially among younger women who are a key audience for these types of movies . However Disney is hoping for strong word-of-mouth and that families with daughters will still flock to see it especially with the Valentine's Day/Presidents Day weekend release.

It is worth noting that Disney movies like Maleficent and Aladdin also had mixed critic reviews but still did well at the box office. Ultimately Snow White's success might depend on whether audiences can look past the controversies and embrace this modern take on a classic tale.

Early Reviews Are In: Is Snow White a Modern Fairytale or a Forgettable Remake?

So what are critics saying about Snow White? Early reviews are also a bit all over the place. The movie currently has a low Rotten Tomatoes score which is not ideal. Some reviews praise Rachel Zegler's performance and Gal Gadot's Evil Queen but others are not so thrilled.

One review in TIME magazine actually argues that Snow White is surprisingly good and "warranted" despite remake fatigue. The review praises Zegler's "no-nonsense charms" and the movie's focus on Snow White wanting to build a better world not just find a prince. It also highlights the "lavish details" like Sandy Powell's costumes and the movie's subtle political undertones making it "the right Snow White for this moment."

However other reviews are less enthusiastic pointing to the CGI dwarves as a "misstep" and questioning if the movie fully captures the magic of the original. It seems like Snow White is going to be a movie that sparks different reactions depending on what viewers are looking for in a fairytale remake.

Will You Be Wishing Upon a Star for Snow White?

Disney's Snow White is definitely generating buzz for better or worse. With a fresh cast modern twists and a fair share of controversy this movie is arriving at an interesting time for fairytales. Will audiences embrace Rachel Zegler as a 21st-century Snow White and Gal Gadot as a stylishly wicked queen? Will the box office numbers reflect the fairytale magic Disney is hoping for or will this be another case of remake-derision? Only time and moviegoers will tell when Snow White arrives in theaters March 21.