It has been noted that Disney is “controlling the number of media inquiries Rachel Zegler participates in.”
Uh oh…
Disney appears to have cancelled the UK premiere for the live-action Snow White because it believes it will be critically mocked for the film’s contemporary twist.
Industry insiders state that the company is applying the breaks on the promotional activities for the movie with Rachel Zegler cast as the princess in the fairytale.
Disney will now switch to a more conservative strategy just weeks before Diana’s carpet premiere in London by greatly limiting press interactions. The Daily Mail claimed that now, there will be no red carpet premiere before the movie’s release on March 21, 2025.
A source stated, “Disney has anticipated backlash regarding Snow White and has dramatically reduced media exposure to a controlled few sock interviews.”
They have decided to eliminate the London premiere while making certain the media interaction for Rachel Zegler is limited to a few questions.”
This development comes on the heels of months of intense criticism over the film’s casting and creative decisions.
The controversy surrounding the live-action Snow White has been alive since 2021 when it was disclosed that Zegler, a Latino actress, would be playing the titular role.
Some fans raised eyebrows about the casting claiming that it was too different from the fairytale. Zegler’s comments regarding the film further ignited discussions about her criticism of the animated 1937 version, which she called antiquated, as well as out of form when it came to romance.
In a 2022 interview with Extra TV, she declared, “The original centers so much around her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird. So this time, we didn’t do that.”
She also stresses the point that romance will not be the focus of the new Snow White but rather, leadership.
“She’s not waiting for a prince to save her. She’s doing everything she can to be the leader she knows she can be,” she said.
This caused a divide among the fans because some claimed that Disney put a contemporary message ahead of the original tale.
Moreover, Peter Dinklage who played the character Tyrion in the Game of Thrones series slammed the film for its casting decisions. In the January episode of the podcast ‘WTF With Marc Maron,’ he said, “They were so proud to cast a Latina actress as Snow White, but they’re still telling the same Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs story.”
“Step back and reconsider your actions,” he continues.
Disney issued a response on Good Morning America after receiving backlash claiming that they were changing the movie in an attempt to remove stereotypes that needed to be avoided.
“We are consulting members of the dwarfism community regarding our new plan to avoid reinforcing the stereotypes from the original film,” a Disney representative said, “we are changing the characters to portray them as magical creatures rather than dwarfs.”
This is one step towards a new approach in which changes are being made equipped with different genders and heights.
Alongside the ongoing arguments over the casting, the film has been running into other obstacles. Looking at the early test screenings, they appear to be receiving mixed reviews as some enjoy the new approach while others feel like it is too progressive. This has been another hurdle in attempting to modernize the story.
With Snow White being a topic of discussion, the movie’s projected box office results are still unclear. Disney’s live-action attempts have been both successful and unsuccessful, and experts are turning their attention to this film to see if it will be a successful smash hit or an additional divorce creating debate.
Start the enchanting adventure! Catch the trailer for Disney’s Snow White and brace yourself for a classic tale reimagined: Watch Here:
