Snow White’s Tumultuous Journey: Five Controversies That Plagued Disney’s Live-Action Remake

Disney’s ambitious live-action reimagining of its cherished 1937 animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, has faced a challenging road to its theatrical debut. From the moment production commenced in 2022, the film has been embroiled in a series of controversies that have dominated headlines and fueled heated debate. These issues ranged from production delays and concerns about politically correct depictions of iconic characters to outspoken comments from the film’s lead actress that ignited considerable backlash. The movie opened to what critics are calling middling reviews, making this production a perfect storm of issues.

1. The Dwarfism Depiction Debate: Peter Dinklage’s Call to Action

The film’s initial misstep occurred more than three years before its release when Peter Dinklage, a celebrated actor with dwarfism, publicly challenged Disney’s initial approach to portraying the seven dwarfs. Dinklage’s critique, delivered on Marc Maron’s podcast in 2022, questioned the studio’s commitment to progressive values, arguing that the traditional portrayal of dwarfs living in a cave reinforced outdated and harmful stereotypes. He said: “You’re progressive in one way, but then you’re still making that f—–g backwards story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together. What the f— are you doing, man?"

Dinklage’s words resonated deeply and prompted Disney to reconsider its approach. In January 2022, the studio issued a statement announcing a "different approach" to the seven characters, emphasizing that it would consult with members of the dwarfism community to avoid perpetuating stereotypes. Ultimately, Disney opted to employ CGI to represent the dwarfs, a decision that was met with both praise and criticism. Some applauded the move as a step towards inclusivity, while others lamented the loss of authentic representation.

2. Rachel Zegler’s Critique of the Original Film: A Modern Snow White Emerges

Rachel Zegler, the actress chosen to portray Snow White, has also been a focal point of controversy due to her comments about the themes of the 1937 animated film. During Disney’s D23 expo in 2022, Zegler remarked, "I mean, you know, the original cartoon came out in 1937 and very evidently so. There’s a big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird! Weird. So we didn’t do that this time."

Zegler’s remarks sparked intense debate, with some accusing her of disparaging a beloved classic. Her critics also questioned her views about the original. In the new telling there would be no focus on Snow White’s singing dreamily about her true love, but she does belt out lyrics about becoming the leader she knows she can be. Zegler’s defenders, however, argued that her intention was to modernize the story and create a more empowering narrative for contemporary audiences. Zegler dismissed her online critics, suggesting that their response is an over-the-top reaction to her outspokenness and being fearless with her opinions.

3. Production Delay: A Year-Long Hiatus Amid Speculation

In late 2023, Disney announced a year-long delay in the film’s release date. The movie was originally slated to debut in March 2024 but was pushed back to 2025. This postponement fueled speculation that Disney was scrambling to address the controversies that had plagued the production. Some observers suggested that the studio needed time to sanitize the film’s progressive themes and revise the depiction of the dwarfs after alleged diverse depictions were mocked online.

While Disney remained tight-lipped about the specific reasons for the delay, industry sources offered alternative explanations. The Hollywood Reporter suggested that the SAG-AFTRA strike, which brought Hollywood to a standstill, played a significant role in the decision, as studios scrambled to reorganize their release schedules.

4. Political Statements and Social Media Backlash: Zegler’s Advocacy

In addition to the controversies surrounding her comments about the original film, Zegler faced further scrutiny for her political statements on social media. An August 2024 post in which she wrote "And always remember, free Palestine," raised eyebrows. Some questioned whether the message was a subtle jab at film co-star Gal Gadot, who has vocally supported her home country of Israel’s military response to the Hamas terrorist attack.

Zegler also faced criticism for lashing out at people who voted for Donald Trump after the 2024 presidential election. In an Instagram post, she wrote, "May Trump supporters and Trump voters and Trump himself never know peace. F— Donald Trump." The post drew immediate condemnation, and Zegler subsequently issued an apology, stating, "I let my emotions get the best of me."

5. Scaled-Down Premiere: A Sign of Unease?

Adding fuel to the fire, Disney made the unusual decision to scale back the Hollywood premiere event for Snow White. According to Variety, the red carpet event would be smaller than Disney’s typical big-budget premieres. The smaller red carpet event would reportedly not be attended by media outlets that usually attend premieres to speak to the film’s cast and crew.

The decision prompted speculation that Disney was tacitly acknowledging concerns about how the film would be received. Actor Martin Klebba, who voices the character of Grumpy, expressed disappointment about the scaled-down premiere.

Conservative film critic Christian Toto summed up the film’s troubled development, calling it a "perfect storm of media mismanagement." He noted that the controversies had "blunted dramatically" the film’s box office prospects. While Toto acknowledged that Snow White might still generate revenue, he cautioned that Disney had "stepped on more than a few rakes along the way, though, hurting its overall box office potential."

The film opened to middling reviews, with one New York Times critic lamenting, "its mediocrity is among its biggest bummers."