Movies

Disney’s Snow White Premiere Scaled Back Amid Controversy and Backlash

BBG News

The grand opening of Disney’s live-action Snow White film, starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, will have a more modest unveiling due to the controversy surrounding these actors.

Although Disney invested over $269.4 million in producing the film, which faced numerous issues like controversies and delays, Variety disclosed that Disney wouldn’t give the movie the grand premiere (or red carpet treatment) typically afforded to similar productions.

At the upcoming pre-party and screening of Snow White, scheduled for March 15 at the El Capitan Theatre, only photographers and an essential staff (referred to as the house crew) will have access for coverage.

Instead of following the usual practice where numerous media outlets are invited for premieres to report on the event and speak with the actors, the studio has chosen to break away from tradition in this instance.

The decision was made under scrutiny, with concerns arising that the modern adaptation may have prioritized politically correct content over genuine narrative development.

Ever since Zegler was chosen, some Disney fans have been overly critical about every change made from the original fairy tale. They’ve been scrutinizing deviations such as moving away from the traditional romantic narrative and transforming the Seven Dwarfs into a diverse ensemble of ‘magical beings’, varying in height, gender, and race.

Previously, Zegler, now playing the lead role, had expressed criticism towards David Hand’s 1937 animated film, stating that it portrays outdated notions about women holding positions of power and the appropriate roles for women in society.

As a lifestyle expert, I reminisced during my interview with Extra TV in 2022, “Without a doubt, the classic cartoon first graced our screens way back in 1937.

In our new approach, we’ve intentionally shifted away from heavily emphasizing her romantic tale with a man who appears to be following her closely. It certainly is an unusual choice. This time around, we’re taking a different direction.

‘Our film may seem like a love story due to our male lead actor, but it actually follows a unique narrative that deviates from traditional assumptions.’

She playfully hinted, “Every single scene featuring Andrew might be eliminated, you never know!” (It’s Hollywood, after all!), followed by a confession in another conversation that she was quite anxious when she experienced the cherished Snow White ride at Disney World.

Regarding the 1937 movie, she expressed her fear towards the original edition. She admitted to watching it only once and having no intention of revisiting it again. She was utterly sincere in her statement.

In the same year, Zegler shared with Variety that her portrayal of Snow White would depict aspirations towards becoming a courageous leader instead of yearning for true love.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I followed in Snow White’s footsteps by experiencing firsthand her iconic lake plunge, hidden within a forest through an underwater entrance. To ensure a safe and prolonged submergence, I underwent scuba diving training for the occasion.

During the course of my training, a former Navy man named Pete was always with me, connected to me. Essentially, I trained for approximately 48 hours in total, and we filmed for two full days. This included spending about seven hours submerged underwater.

Previously disclosed to DailyMail.com, there was a strong consideration to remove Zegler from the leading role in Snow White due to her reputation for being unpredictable.

Zegler’s strong opinions have prompted some haters to vow to boycott the film. 

After earning the coveted role of Maria Vasquez in Steven Spielberg’s 2021 adaptation of West Side Story, beating out a pool of 30,000 other actresses, she has faced relentless scrutiny since her meteoric rise to fame.

This involves dealing with racist criticism due to her role as Snow White in the 2025 live-action adaptation of Disney’s timeless animated tale, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, as well as enduring hateful online harassment for expressing her political views publicly.

Last year, while contemplating racist remarks directed at her for being cast as Snow White on social media, Zegler told THR that she simply can’t understand why some Disney adults would object to a Latina actress playing the cherished character.

As an ardent admirer, I can’t help but share the thrilling tidbit Zegler disclosed: her character’s skin, described as ‘as white as snow’, will be a nod to another intriguing tale of Snow White from history. This time, our heroine isn’t just a passive character; she’s a survivor who miraculously endured a snowstorm that struck her in infancy.

In a nod to her strength, the monarch and consort opted to christen her Snow White, as the local from Hackensack pointed out. A key message in our movie, aimed at all young women and individuals, is to always remember your own power and resilience.

The celebrity, too, confessed that it was disheartening to observe numerous individuals criticizing her harshly when she hinted that her portrayal of Snow White might not be rescued by a prince.

She clarified, “I genuinely felt disappointed that it was misconstrued like that, as I firmly think women are capable of achieving anything. Yet, I also believe they’re capable of everything else. It can be disheartening when things get twisted or a joke doesn’t resonate.

Zegler emphasized that the ‘love story plays a crucial role’, and it was incorrect to assume that the remake would exclude any romantic elements.

She stated, “I’ve observed women being criticized and demeaned throughout my lifetime and career. This trend will likely continue in the upcoming election, unfortunately. At times, it seems as though we are taking steps backward; it definitely felt this way during those instances.

At times, she finds herself contemplating quitting social media, but admittedly, she doesn’t want to provide those trolls with the pleasure of realizing they’ve upset her.

‘You give them a lot of power by taking a social media break,’ she pointed out.

Over the years, she has used her platforms to champion causes that are important to her.

In the year 2023, during the SAG-AFTRA strike, she voiced concerns over potential risks associated with AI, reminiscing about how approximately 465 images of different parts of her body were captured for computer-generated stunts.

She expressed her feelings, saying, “It felt like a bleak, oppressive future.” She confessed her fears about the possibility that an artificial intelligence replica of herself, created from a scan at age 18, would replace her permanently and prevent her from working on film sets ever again. She questioned why they couldn’t continue using this AI version for the rest of her life instead.

She’s also advocated for Palestinians.

As a passionate observer, I’ve been deeply affected by the ongoing conflict in Israel for years. It breaks my heart to witness the senseless loss of lives, especially among children, as we approach the one-year anniversary of the tragic attacks on October 7th. The fact that this is still a contentious issue should not be surprising or controversial; it’s simply a matter of empathy and humanity.

Still, she acknowledges that she doesn’t ‘have the answers.’

She stated, “I believe celebrities expressing political views may not have all the solutions, but we can use our platforms to post charity donation links to provide financial support, care, and aid for those who aren’t receiving it from those in power. If this means we need to step up and take on a role that helps, I am ready for it.

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2025-03-11 21:04

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