Disney will release a live-action remake Snow White starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot next year, but recent controversy has some wondering whether the film could have trouble at the box office.
The words and actions of Hollywood talent have become increasingly relevant in recent years as social media has evolved. Actors and creatives have found themselves under more scrutiny than ever, with some even facing consequences for something they may have done or posted years ago.
For example, ten-year-old tweets filled with pedophile jokes from Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn was exposed, leading to his dismissal from Volume 3 until Disney eventually reversed the decision.
Disney’s Snow White remake controversy explained
Controversy surrounding Snow White has recently risen for two reasons, the first of which was due to leaked photos showing Disney’s leading princess Rachel Zegler along with her seven traveling companions.
The photo, which Disney said was fake, sparked an uproar because it drew attention to the film’s replacement of the Seven Dwarfs with a group of people of varying heights, genders and ethnicities, which many criticized as a decision based on political correctness.
A Disney spokesperson confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that the company has decided to do so. “different approaches” to the original seven dwarfs “to avoid perpetuating stereotypes” noting how the studio consulted with “members of the dwarfism community” wherein:
“To avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film, we are taking a different approach to these seven characters and consulting with members of the dwarfism community… We look forward to sharing more information as the film goes into production after extensive development. period.”
Following the circulation of an alleged photo from the set, comments from last September’s D23 interview resurfaced, in which Zegler and Evil Queen actress Gal Gadot criticized the original story and revealed major changes to the remake’s plot.
In an interview with Diversity At the event, Zegler called the story outdated and announced major changes as there would no longer be a Snow White. “I dream of true love” but rather it will be included “become the leader she knows she can be:”
“I just mean that it’s not 1937 anymore. We absolutely wrote “Snow White” that… the prince will not save her, and she will not dream of true love; she will dream of becoming the leader she knows she can become, and that her late father told her she could become if she were fearless, fair, brave and truthful.”
Fans also took issue with Zegler’s description of Prince Charming as “the guy who literally stalks her” in an interview with Extra TV. A member of the royal family met Snow White in the original story when he heard her singing while riding past on a horse, which led him to the castle where she worked to meet her:
“The original cartoon came out in 1937, and this is quite obvious. Much attention is paid to her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Strange. That’s why we didn’t do it this time.”
The actress turned down the role of the main character Andrew Burnap, joking how “all (his) scenes could have been cut:”
“We’re taking a different approach to what I’m sure a lot of people will think is a love story just because we cast a guy in the film. All the scenes with Andrew could be cut, who knows? It’s Hollywood, baby!
Although Burnap will play the male lead, he will not be playing the role of Prince Charming, but rather will be playing a character named Jonathan, which the actor says will be “Man About Town.”not so much a true prince as a stubborn hero.”
In a conversation with Entertainment Weekly, Zegler even revealed that she was never a fan of the original. Snow White growing up, which disappointed many to hear:
“The original cartoon scared me, I think I watched it once and never picked it up again. Like I’m so serious that I watched it once and then went on a ride at Disneyland called Snow White’s Scary Adventures – it doesn’t sound like something a little kid would want – was horrified by it and never went back to To Snow White. . So, I watched it for the first time in 16, 17 years of filming this movie.”
David Hand, son of the director of the original 1937 film of the same name, hit back at Zegler and the remake in an interview with The Telegraph, sharing his belief that both his father and Walt Disney “I largely disagree with this:”
“It’s a completely different concept and I don’t agree with it at all, and I know my dad and Walt wouldn’t agree with it either.”
Hand then called the remake “a shame” and even mentioned “awoke” direction as “offensive” to the original classic:
“Their thoughts are so radical now. They change the stories, they change the thought process of the characters… they come up with new awakening things, and I just don’t like it. To be honest, I find this a little strange. It’s insulting (what) they may have done with some of these classic films… There’s no respect for what Disney did and what my father did… I think he and Walt would be spinning in their graves.”
In the comments, many were disappointed in Zegler’s casting, which was already a hot topic due to her Latin heritage, given that the original fairy tale featured Snow White “skin white as snow” and is usually portrayed as Caucasian.
Zegler defended the many changes and upgrades in an interview with Vanity Fair, expressing her views on the overhaul. “necessary” give Snow White “a function beyond “Someday My Prince Will Come:””
“People joke about us being PC. Snow White, where is it, yes, it is – because it was necessary,” said the actress. “This cartoon is 85 years old, and our version is a refreshing story about a young woman who has functions beyond Someday My Prince Will Come.”
Will Snow White struggle at the box office?
Since then, Disney has been making every effort to create live-action remakes of animated films. Lion King And Aladdin became billion-dollar hits in 2019. But lately the novelty seems to be wearing off with the release of the latest remake, Mermaidbringing in just $566.6 million against a massive $250 million production budget.
While the film should still make a small profit when home release sales are taken into account, it certainly won’t be the blockbuster success Disney was hoping for. Now there are concerns Snow White may suffer the same fate due to the bad press surrounding it and the likely high price tag.
Viral Snow White It’s unlikely that the controversy will have much of an impact on the film’s chances of being a box office success, as fans commenting on these issues on social media typically represent a fairly small portion of the general audience.
But given the difficulties faced Mermaid – who also faced controversy over the casting of Halle Bailey – Snow White similarly, it may face difficulties at the box office when it releases next year.
The live-action remake seems certain to face backlash from moviegoers and critics due to the many changes it will make to the original story. It’s easy to see how the negative press expected to surround the release could end up hurting its box office performance, especially if the film ends up not being all that great.
Again, perhaps curiosity about how Disney has changed. Snow White could end up being the hook that gets audiences into theaters, or at least gets them interested enough to watch the film upon its home release or on Disney+.
Snow White will be released in theaters on March 22, 2024, although reports claim that a Disney remake will be released “We will almost certainly postpone this date.”