Amid heated debates over its content and casting, Disney has decided to downscale the Los Angeles premiere of its new, live-action "Snow White" film, which has sparked considerable backlash due to its modern reinterpretations.
The film, criticized for its progressive themes, will see a reduced media presence and no London premiere as part of Disney's response to the controversy, Daily Mail reported.
Stars Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot lead the cast in a film that diverges significantly from the traditional "Snow White" fairy tale. Disney invested approximately $269.4 million into the production, signaling high expectations.
Rachel Zegler, a Hispanic actress, plays Snow White, a casting choice part of the film's modernized theme which includes rethinking the original tale's romance plot and character dynamics. Zegler's participation has attracted criticism and trolling, partly due to her political stances and the departure from traditional depictions of the character.
Moreover, the reimagining of the Seven Dwarfs as diverse magical creatures rather than dwarfs has led to further debate. Critics argue that while the production intends to avoid reinforcing stereotypes, it struggles with maintaining the story's integrity.
Rachel Zegler has openly critiqued the 1937 version for portraying a dated view of women and problematic romantic plotlines. "The original cartoon... very evidently so. There's a big focus on her love story with a guy who stalks her. Weird. So we didn't do that this time," she commented.
Her approach to Snow White includes a survivalist angle. "For Snow White, there's a famous scene where she falls into a lake... I got scuba diving training so I could spend a long time underwater," Zegler shared, highlighting her dedication to reshaping her character.
Her comments have drawn mixed reactions, with some praising the fresh take and others feeling it diverges too far from the beloved classic.
While originally planning a typical grand premiere, Disney has opted for a more subdued event at the El Capitan Theatre on March 15. The entertainment giant will limit media access, allowing only photographers and a house crew, minimizing the usual press frenzy often associated with such releases.
Following significant backlash, Disney has also decided against a London premiere, adjusting its media strategy to control the narrative surrounding the film more tightly. An insider from Daily Mail revealed, "Disney is already anticipating an anti-woke backlash against Snow White and have reduced the media schedule to just a handful of tightly controlled press events."
The decision to minimize direct press interactions, particularly with Rachel Zegler, seems designed to shield the cast from potentially confrontational questioning.
Despite criticism, Disney has made efforts to consult the dwarfism community during its early stages of production. This involved discussions about appropriate representation and the portrayal of characters traditionally depicted as dwarfs.
Actor Peter Dinklage has been vocal about the adaptation, challenging Disney on the need to modernize without losing the essence of the narrative. "You're progressive in one way and you're still making that f***ing backwards story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together, what the f*** are you doing, man? Have I done nothing to advance the cause from my soapbox?" he argued.
In response, a Disney spokesperson explained the rationale behind the transformation of the dwarfs into magical creatures: "To avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film, we are taking a different approach with these seven characters and have been consulting with
